John McCain did ok in tonight's debate. Barack Obama did better. McCain needed to score a knock-out punch in the debate in order to reverse his skid in the polls. Given that he only did ok, and Obama did better, I'd say tonight's debate was a significant defeat for McCain, and a clear victory for Obama.
In particular -
Obama hit back hard on McCain and the Republicans' persisting, false allegation that Obama wants to raise taxes - for any American earning under $250,000, and for most small businesses, that is plain and simply untrue.
Obama also hit back on McCain's claim that Obama makes threatening statements to our potential enemies in the world - Obama reminded McCain about his "bomb, bomb Iran" refrain (McCain's version of the Regents' and Beach Boys' "Barbara Ann").
Obama was also crystal clear on his differences with McCain on health care, and how Obama's policy would both respect current health care arrangements for Americans who want to keep them, and at the same time offer health care to those who currently cannot afford it.
McCain did improve his body language and facial expressions from the first debate. But Obama has never looked better - more Kennedyesque, cool and comfortable under pressure.
McCain's best moment was when a Petty Officer in the audience extended his hand and McCain shook it. Clearly McCain is more at ease in this Town Hall format than the traditional stand-behind-the-podium. But Obama looked at ease, as well.
I wasn't thrilled with Tom Brokaw's performance as moderator - he interrupted the candidates too many times. But he's not running for office.
Obama and McCain are, and in tonight's debate, Obama came a big step closer to the White House.
3 comments:
Dr. Lev,
I don't think it was an "ass kicking" like your post-er on Digg suggests; but I think it's telling that in McCain's admitted debate "weapon of choice," the Town Hall meeting, he was just plain lackluster.
I also noticed something immediately and was inspired to write a satirical post about John McCain's absent American Flag lapel pin.
I guess all the propaganda about Obama's non-verbal "hatred" of America due to his pinless lapel goes down the tubes for the GOP foot soldiers on the web.
The so-called 'town hall' format (town hall, my ass!!) was said by the pundits to be McCain's strong suit and he still loses. So what does that tell ya? McCain is a hot-tempered 'songbird' who spilled his guts to the North Vietnamese and told a lie about this 'imprisonment' that he stole --full cloth --from a book. He may be kidding himself that he's a 'war hero'! Everyone else knows he's fraud!
McCain has been wanting the townhall setting for quite some time. He thought of it as his specialty, his strong suit. Now we see he has miscalculated somewhat. He favorable opinion of his own performance in such a setting is the result of the one-horse race: when he is surrounded by supporters who respond to every joke, who regard him fondly, and go nuts over the red meat he throws out.
What the hell happened last night? Inject another personality and the dynamic changed immediately. No longer was McCain the only horse in the race. Every moment in that townhall setting, he was being compared to Obama, and the difference was startling -- and very much detrimental to the McCain campaign.
Obama is a bit taller. This may appear unimportant, but a scrutiny into the history of elections will demonstrate a subtle, yet real psychological effect. People definitely respond to height in salesmen AND politicians at a subconscious level.
This effect, however, was by no means as powerful as the difference in age. Obama is just entering into his prime and it shows. He moved easily, comfortably. In contrast, McCain showed every one of his 70+ years. He walked like an old man. This would not be so painfully obvious when he was the only candidate in a townhall meeting, but last night it became an intense contrast.
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