I just spoke with my mom in New Jersey, and asked her if she and dad watched the debate. She immediately mentioned how shameful she thought it was that, as Lorie Byrd wrote, "John Kerry used Mary Cheney, the daughter of the Vice President, as a lesbian political prop".

My parents aren't political wonks--despite my best efforts, they're not on the Internet; they get their news from the local newspaper and Philadelphia-area TV news. And if that's the takeaway soundbite from last night's debate for them, then it most definitely hurt Senator Kerry.

Update: Glenn describes it as "a major blunder" as well.