comment #1

D.Z. says ...

Yeah, the fact that he had a few stumbles with Hillary had more to do with her ability to avoid the issues by relying on personal attacks than on Obama's ability to come off convincing. McCain's trying to actually win on his arguments, but failing in the face of his record.

comment #2

frankbooth says ...

Even in this clip, you can see McCain grimacing and acting shifty, like a bad character actor broadly playing an old-school politician.

There's no doubt as to who comes across as cooler, more dignified and more in control. But then I remember the Bush/Kerry debates, in which Bush draped himself over his podium like a high school kid in a dull class (when he wasn't spazzing out, trying to shout down the moderator), and how he was perceived by a significant number to have "won" anyway.

Have you noticed the way Obama pronounces the word "to?" He says "tuh" in the Midwestern style -- because, of course, that's where he's from. It doesn't register consciously to most people, but I think it makes him seem more identifiable and approachable than someone with perfect William F. Buckley enunciation. God knows,a candidate doesn't want to seem too smart, or exceptional in any way.

A final thought, which someone pointed out on another blog (I've already forgotten which one) but that's worth passing along: After the debate, Barrack and Michelle walked over and shook hands with John and Cindy McCain. They didn't meet halfway -- the McCains just stood there and waited for the Obamas to walk over. Maybe it didn't occur to them, maybe it was a power play, maybe they're just used to people (as in hired help) approaching THEM to see what they might need. Or maybe it's just getting hard for John to walk that far. But it's a telling little detail, character-wise.

comment #3

Pinko Punko says ...

Those lacking thread in the count department may have had their first intro to Obama tonight. They also may not be up on how much of an asshole McCain is. Obama was very wise not to go for the jugular in an explicit or overly combative way. It would have been offputting to those not yet waking up to the gigantic fraud McCain is.

comment #4

MovieBob says ...

No one went off message, fumbled or blew a major gaffe. Obama didn't do the off-prompter mumbling bit, McCain didn't lose his temper, so it's essentially a tie. That's bad news for McCain, because a tie at this point benefits the guy already in front.

McCain's biggest loss (in terms of what will be replayed) was the casual "yeah, sure" answer to whether or not he'll vote for the bailout which his own party is right now working to kill. Oops. Obama's biggest loss was any of the five or six times the camera caught him laughing to himself when McCain tried to nail a 'clever' point. Also, the "Senator McCain was right" refrain... yeesh, he just handed them their next commercial.

NEITHER of them, demonstrably, came to fight - because they both had game-ending megaton punches to throw and neither one did. All Obama would've had to do is ask McCain ONCE "what the hell was up with the last 24 hours?" but he didn't. McCain could've blown the race wide open by showing up with news that he had personally killed the bailout deal to save the taxpayers, he didn't.

comment #5

D.Z. says ...

Bob: "Obama's biggest loss was any of the five or six times the camera caught him laughing to himself when McCain tried to nail a 'clever' point."

Actually, I think that hurt McCain more, since Obama's confidence shines through his smile, while McCain's smirk reeks of bs.

"McCain could've blown the race wide open by showing up with news that he had personally killed the bailout deal to save the taxpayers, he didn't."

There's no way McCain could do that, even with *his* influence. But even if that were possible, he'd probably be remembered as the guy who let things get worse, if he blocked the deal. The best he could do is weaken the bill, and he's got too many lobbying buddies who would pull out of his campaign, if he went that route.

Man, it's ironic that Dubya is actually working with him this time, and yet he's *still* killing John's campaign! I can't believe the Republicans didn't consider the possibility that Shrub might be a potential time bomb for their party, given his previous failures. Now they're hanging for dear life, when they should be jumping ship.

comment #6

corey3rd says ...

It's the first of three rounds. Obama can't go for a real nasty fight until the last one. Otherwise McCain gets to look like the comeback kid if he gets rocked in round one and Obama can't keep it up for the next two rounds.

Ultimately there's only one way you can declare a true "winner" of a debate - when one guy starts crying and declaring "I'm only doing this cause my wife told me to run....."

comment #7

btwnproductions says ...

McCain keeps invoking the Reagan revolution. What Obama has to do is remind him--and the voting public--that that "golden era" (which as I recollect had a pyrite feel to it) is long past.

comment #8

MathewM says ...

I liked Obama in the debate. McCain is more fun to watch but he also has that seething energy that I don't believe is the best for the country right now. I don't believe either one can solve the country's woes (there is no silver bullet for millions of stupid and un-lucky investors and home buyers) but Obama comes across as the one better to ride it out with.

comment #9

NotImpressedYet says ...

Sorry to go off topic, but it's just been announced that Paul Newman died.

comment #10

arturobandini2 says ...

Two things McCain deserves credit for:

1) He limited his trademark "my friendzh" refrain to once or twice; and

2) For the first time, he actually said "Washington," not "Worshington."

Other than that, McCain blew it. He made it crystal clear that we'll be in Iraq 'til the ice caps melt if he gets elected. Other missteps included throwing in stump speech one-liners (those always tank unless there's applause), wielding his death-bracelet as oneupmanship (Obama effortlessly neutralized him with his own bracelet) and, inconceivably, bragging about his choice of Bible Spice as running mate. In the light of the Couric interview meltdown, Palin now comes off dumber than Junior Miss South Carolina.

Obama held his own, though I'm surprised he did so well in the apres-polls. Jeffrey Toobin said the winner of the first debate usually gets an added boost, as the few people who actually watch it influence their apolitical friends in the days afterward.

comment #11

Chicago48 says ...

Debate wins do not = White house wins. I don't put anything pass the McC managers to come throwing grenades and land minds to stop O from getting to the White House.
And you know the President isn't happy. He wants McC in there.

comment #12

arturobandini2 says ...

God bless you, Paul Newman.

comment #13

George Prager says ...

At least McCain didn't quote Chairman Mao.

If you go 4:30 mins in, you can hear McCain say "horseshit"
twice:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/26909249#26909711

comment #14

Movie Watcher says ...

Obama did a good job. But he has to quit saying "You're absolutely right John." He did that too much. McCain has got to drop the 'Miss congeniality' line, that is one lame fucking line. Overall, I think Obama won, but not by much. McCain not looking at Obama, to me, felt like he was annoyed with the guy. Obama should have asked him if he knew what the Bush doctrine is. Obama looked presidentilal, McCain looked like an old grouch.

comment #15

Movie Watcher says ...

Presidential

comment #16

Jay T. says ...

Next time McCain does that annoying chuckle, Obama should stop and say something like, "Our economy is no laughing matter, John." If you can come out of a debate with a solid punchline, that's what people will remember most later on.

comment #17

Jay T. says ...

I also agree that Obama was wise to hold back a little for the first one... there's plenty of time to put McCain in his place.

comment #18

Krazy Eyes says ...

I thought Obama did just fine and disagree that this was the time or place for him to go for the jugular. Foreign relations is the area he's the most limited in and really all he needed to accomplish was stand toe-to-to with McCain and look informed, intelligent, and presidential. He did all those things.

Wait till they get to the economics debate . . . then Obama can go in for the kill. He needs to leave McCain bloodied and battered in the final debate and I think that's exactly what he's going to try to do.

comment #19

D.Z. says ...

Chicago: "Debate wins do not = White house wins. "

They certainly did the job in '04. Bush came off like an idiot then, and Kerry and Edwards chose to embrace his idiocy, rather then punch holes in it.

comment #20

janee says ...

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