September 26, Presidential Debate 1

[Skiprr]

It was obvious that neither of the candidates would have made the all-star POTUS debating team, but I have a couple of personal observations. Chime in with opinions of your own!

Obama was surprisingly uncomfortable in this format. Even though media reports have had him at intensive "debate camps" the past several days, he often seemed hesitant and certainly used more "ah" and "uh" gap-sounds than I would ever want to hear from a President of the United States.

Obama actually said "I agree with Senator McCain" eight distinct times. I don't think McCain once said the same of Obama.

Neither candidate directly mentioned the other's running mate, though McCain said he had another "maverick" on his ticket without mentioning Palin's name.

In my opinion, McCain stayed on question; it was Obama who strayed, seemingly in order to bring the discussion back to subjects where he felt more comfortable.

I was disappointed, given that tonight's pre-ordained topic was "foreign policy," that Lehrer launched right into the domestic economic crises. We knew that would be invariably in the mix, but I didn't expect the moderator to jump right into it and ignore the established topic.

Pre-debate, some analysts had been predicting that a strategy of the Obama camp would be to rile McCain enough to make him angry, make him lash out, less controlled. I saw some of that effect in McCain's face (frequent jaw-clenching, more rapid blinking, false smiles) but to his credit, I don't think he let it get to him.

Net message: Obama came off as someone with little direct experience who had studied reallt hard for the test. If a question came to him that he wasn't prepared for, it showed. But he did a decent debater's job of trying to steer the discussion back to a subject for which he'd prepared.

McCain came off as been-there-done-that. He didn't seem to have as many prepared notes, and despite his slip once of pronouncing the Iranian president's name, he seemed clearly to be the guy most familiar with foreign relations.

On the subject of the economic crises, I also thought McCain won. Lehrer specifically asked--re-asked, in fact--a question that said small, incremental changes aside, what would the candidates look to for high-level strategies. McCain answered the question the first time: broad, sweeping, federal spending cuts. Obama seemed unprepared for this question and kept returning to a description of individual initiatives.

Anybody else catch the mouth-phlegm bit that stuck to Obama's lower lip about 20 minutes into it?

Of course, I'm biased. But I came away thinking that this Obama guy just ain't ready to sit at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office and reside as President of the United States.

[tbranch]

It's most likely a tie although McCain had a strong finish once the debate got on-topic. I think we all knew Obama would not do as well without his teleprompter but I thought he was better than I expected and held his own by bringing the topic back to the economy.

I'm really waiting to see how well Palin does with Biden. It's a case where the experience tables are turned but I think Palin thinks well on her feet and may be more polished and articulate when forced to speak extemporaneously.

Tom

[ScubaSigGuy]

I would think that Palin would have a clear advantage. Biden has no idea what staying on topic means, and there is no telling what might come out of his mouth. I am just waiting for Biden to pull some sort of Hward Dean type blowup.

[HighVelocity]

I forced myself to watch all but the last 10 minutes. I didn't think McCain or Obama did particularly well. McCain chewed up a lot of time repeating himself and Obama was visibly unprepared.

I'd call it a wash.

[longtooth]

I give McCain 1
Hussein Obama 0

Love the phlegm
Like to see the biased news media clean that up for Mr. P reppie.

[flintknapper]

I forced myself to watch all but the last 10 minutes. I didn't think McCain or Obama did particularly well. McCain chewed up a lot of time repeating himself and Obama was visibly unprepared.

I'd call it a wash.

My thoughts as well.