Bush’s flaw
Posted by Peter W. Schramm
John Podhoretz argues that it is a good thing that Bush’s one flaw--his tendency toward complacency--showed itself in late September rather than late October, as happened in 2000. 
9:03 AM / October 15, 2004
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I suspect that Podhoretz is right, and that Bush has--thank God--snapped out of one of his habitual bouts of complacency in time to win.
But if the race remains close, there may still be an effect down the ballot.
Had Bush run away with the lead two weeks ago, he’d be spending the final weeks of the campaign visiting all the states with tight Senate races--including Tom Daschle’s South Dakota.
SD, btw, is a state that Daschle doesn’t even live in, apparently:
https://www.gopusa.com/news/2004/october/1015_daschle_residencyp.shtml
But a presidential race that continues to be tight will keep Bush out of SD most likely, so the first debate may have saved Daschle’s hide.
OTOH, one can hope that W will still find time for a South Dakota visit between now and Nov 2nd.