Before it disappears into subscribers-only land, I want to direct you to page 2 of Gallup.com's "Kerry Wins Debate" page. You know what's on page 1 -- Kerry beat Bush, 53%-37%, in Gallup's sample (which, yes, had a pro-GOP skew -- 36% Republicans, 32% independents, 32% Democrats). But on page 2 we learn the results of instant polling after past debates:

First Bush-Gore debate? Gore 48%, Bush 41%. (Yes, the one with the famous sigh.)

Third Bush-Gore debate? Gore 46%, Bush 44%.

(Yes, Bush won #2, 49%-36%.)

First Dukakis-Bush debate? Dukakis 38%, Bush 29%.

(No, that's not the one with the Kitty Dukakis question, for which Gallup inexplicably provides no data.)

You "know" Gore and Dukakis lost all their debates -- but what you "know" just ain't so.