He conceded that he could improve as a candidate by working to become "completely conversant on every single question that you might ask me".
But perhaps most importantly for Mr. Kean, with the election nine months away and both candidates still vaguely defined for most New Jerseyans, he still has time to improve as a candidate in what he hopes will be his first successful bid for office outside of his heavily Republican district.
Mark Brewer, a political scientist at the University of Maine, said that Mr. King had improved as a candidate, addressing concerns that he needed to be more specific in responding to criticisms about his tenure as governor and about what he wanted to accomplish in Washington.
Colin Reed, formerly an aide to her 2012 opponent, former Sen. Scott Brown, and leader of an opposition research group that targeted her, said she had improved as a candidate.
Colin Reed, a Republican consultant who has watched Warren's career closely as an aide to her 2012 opponent, former Sen. Scott Brown, and as leader of an opposition research group that targeted her, said she had improved as a candidate.
Additionally, Cook is improving as a captain.
His presence in the field may have tugged her to the left, but seems to have improved her as a candidate.
Mr. Edwards said Sunday that he had improved markedly as a candidate this year, a tribute, he added, to the nation's presidential nominating system, and an assessment that is widely shared in the camps of his opponents.
A year ago, I thought Obama was a lock to win, especially when it seemed like Romney had not improved much as a candidate and the likes of Sarah Palin was on the brink of running.
Could competing against Mrs. Clinton have improved Mr. Obama as a candidate in the same way that competing against Larry Bird and Magic Johnson in the 1980s made Isiah Thomas and Michael Jordan champions in the 1990s?
