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So who 'won' last night? Biden!
Obama looked pretty good last night, and i think McCain did fairly well but kinda creeped people out in the process. The excessive blinking, the angry smile, the refusal to make eye contact with his opponent. People read those cues whether they consciously notice them or not. When even the conservative commentators are pointing that out, you know the effect has left a lingering impression on the American psyche -- and one that does not bode well for McCain.
But watching Biden eloquently and succinctly eviscerate McCain on all the major networks immediately following the debate was just priceless. He was really on his game last night, and i don't think I've ever seen someone look that credible and respectful while completely trashing their opponent and his record. But there he was, just tearin it up on every channel. I think that he may have even absconded with a few of McCain's freshly-won festoons while Mac's campaign was still busy breathlessly declaring the victory that they had already declared in an ad buy released before the thing started. (Republicans don't wait for reality -- they just create their own.)
So where was Sarah to do her part for the McCain team? Oh yeah -- she's not allowed to talk to the media!
Doh!!!
Yet another unforseen consequence of the Palin pick (and the damage-control strategery that it necessitated) must be painfully obvious to the McCain campaign this morning. The analogy that comes to mind at this moment is reaching for a candy bar when you've skipped lunch and need dinner. A little boost up, followed by a big crash.
I think this must be the part where the sweet intoxication has ended, and it's all just a big headache for McCain. Maybe that's why he looked so grumpy.
But Biden looked great - he must've had the arugula. Of course we all know it was collard greens, but to Republicans i suppose all greens look alike ; )
Sure am lookin forward to that VP debate!
Comments (6)
Biden's mere presence on TV following the debate scores big for Obama / Biden. How embarrassed must the McCain camp be that their VP candidate must remain sequestered away. People are picking up on this.
I think McCain's campaign "suspension" gimmick and Palin's Couric interview won the debate for Obama. Without those two events, McCain may well have been roundly declared the winner. Instead, McCain and Palin, by their performances this past week, lowered themselves in many people's eyes, and these people took a new look at Obama during the debate.
Only one candidate looked presidential last week, and it wasn't McCain. As a result, Obama had the "he has to look presidential" crap out of the way before the first debate and people could focus on the issues debated.
Imagine the immense pressure on Palin as she preps for Thursday's VP debate. Her performance will make or break the remainder of McCain's campaign.
September 27, 2008 1:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Next week's debate looms so large - I think Biden can deal okay with the tension (but even for someone as experienced as he this has to be a bit unnerving). I can't imagine, just can't imagine how Sarah Palin can deal with it, even if she were a lot stronger and a lot smarter than it's become apparent she is.
At worst, last night was a tie and I think those who want to support either presidential candidate will be able to find reason to do so at the end of all of the debates. So what's going to be a game-changer? In this case it may be the VP candidates. If you want some sense of security and hope (that there might be better leadership than we've had) and both of the top guys seem capable of giving that ..... how can you not look to the rest of the ticket? (And, by extension, try to imagine the Cabinet members and advisors and other appointees each man will select?)
September 27, 2008 2:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
according to the cbs poll of undecideds last night, Barack gained major points. the breakdown of the internals was quite telling, and are worth checking out. keep i mind here that a move of only about 2 points within the undecided column could cement an Obama win. i believe that there was a subtle but significant shift last night toward Obama as evidenced by the numbers, although i believe you are correct that anyone already decided would probably come away feeling that 'their' candidate did well.
September 27, 2008 3:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
By being effective, he forced the question: why doesn't McCain have someone with him that can work the press? And the democrats didn't even need to say a word about Palin. Great attack dog John!
September 27, 2008 2:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's a good point. The curious events of the past week or two may well have provided a different context and thus a different result than the same debate may have had a month ago. Along that same line, i was thinking that McCain's persistent mischaracterizations of Obama may have backfired for McCain. Anyone that saw Obama in action for the first time last night may have been expecting an "empty suit" with "no substance" speaking "meaningless platitudes" with "no solutions, only attacks." etc etc.
Clearly that's not what people saw, and if they were expecting that, they must have come away quite impressed by the young Senator from Illinois. I suppose that's the funny thing about lying as a strategy -- while it may get positive results for a short time, one quickly notices diminishing returns followed by a backlash. Just like picking Palin as a running mate, golly. As dubya once said: "fool me twice... won't get fooled again."
Thus far i really haven't taken the idea that Palin would withdraw before the election seriously, as Republicans just don't do that sort of thing. But after her spectacular failures this week (LOVED Jack Cafferty's piece on CNN) i really wouldn't be surprised if she bailed before the debate. Sure am excited to watch it tho!
September 27, 2008 2:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
above comment was reply to workin joe
September 27, 2008 2:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
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