POLITICS . . . IT'S MITTS OFF IN ROUND TWO

In a vicious debate, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) may have won a victory over challenger Mitt Romney by merely looking credible and experienced. But he may have set the stage for an even more brutal second round Thursday in which the challenger must connect cleanly. The two candidates traded blows over health care, crime and personal finances. Romney scored points for saying that the Kennedys don't provide health insurance for part-time employees at the Chicago Merchandise Mart owned by the family; Kennedy on the other hand was cheered for touting his anti-crime record. Romney went into the debate trailing Kennedy in the polls with Kennedy's margin rising dramatically of late. Since the first debate is expected to have little or no effect on Romney's poll numbers, he now faces the task of going after Kennedy as aggressively as possible. But Kennedy isn't sailing smoothly either: with the anti-incumbent passions boiling over this year, the threat against his seat may grow if turnout is low, says TIME Boston bureau chief Sam Allis. The reason? "The Republicans are more energized," says Allis. "They're more excited about the election and will show up in high numbers."