CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- President George W. Bush and Sen. John Kerry went head-to-head during the first of three presidential debates in Florida, a battleground state in the 2004 election, over strategy to "win the war" in Iraq.
Following an opening face-off over homeland security, Kerry accused the president of committing a "colossal error in judgment" by invading Iraq.
"And judgment is what we look for in the president of the United States of America," Kerry said.
The president rebuffed Kerry's attack by declaring that "the world is better off without Saddam Hussein."
Bush also renewed his characterization of Kerry as inconsistent, saying Kerry "voted to authorize the use of force and now says it's the wrong war at the wrong time."
"My opponent looked at the same intelligence I looked at and declared in 2002 that Saddam Hussein was a grave threat," Bush said. "He also said in December of 2003 that anyone who doubts that the world is safer without Saddam Hussein does not have the judgment to be president. I agree with him."
Kerry acknowledged mistakes when explaining his position, but said the president was wrong to invade Iraq.
"Which was worse?" he asked.
Kerry earlier said he could do a better job than Bush of protecting against another Sept. 11-style attack.
"I will hunt down and kill the terrorists, wherever they are," he said. "But we also have to be smart. And smart means not diverting your attention from the real war on terror in Afghanistan against Osama bin Laden and taking if off to Iraq where the 9/11 Commission confirms there was no connection to 9/11 itself and Saddam Hussein, and where the reason for going to war was weapons of mass destruction, not the removal of Saddam Hussein."
The president, in response, insisted the country is safer under his leadership.
"The biggest disaster that could happen is that we not succeed in Iraq. We will succeed. We've got a plan to do so. And the main reason we'll succeed is because the Iraqis want to be free," Bush said.
Even 32 pages of fiercely negotiated debate rules couldn't mask some differences in how the president and the senator from Massachusetts respond to face-to-face criticism.
While both men recycled much of their campaign positions and rhetoric for tonight's presidential debate, this was the first time each had to listen to the challenges at close quarters.
The president scowled at times when Kerry leveled some of his charges, and looked away in apparent disgust at others.
Kerry often looked down at his lectern and took notes when the president was speaking.
Spaced at their podiums 10 feet apart on a University of Miami stage, the two candidates approached each other only twice -- meeting before and after the debate for a brief handshake -- and almost identical grins for the audience.
Meanwhile, hundreds of protesters have gathered outside the University of Miami campus, site of the presidential debate.
Some carried flag-draped coffins and signs that read "What's to debate. Bush lied, fire him." The 76 coffins represent each soldier killed in Iraq this month.
Nearby was another group of about 300 protesters. Some waved signs that read "The next pink slip might be yours."
And about a dozen students and staff rallied in support of Bush. Many waved pro-Bush signs including a bedsheet painted with the message "Cubans for Bush."
There were no arrests, on or off the campus.
Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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