The Presidential Debate Thread- McCain, Obama,who won?, who rambles off subject more?

CNN had the reaction meter.

 

They both stammered some I thought, but not enough to say either one was rattled, however, they both sounded crisp and more respectful than most of the supporters in the forums.

 

McCain is old, maybe he got high blood pressure

to Obama + 2

 

No not stammering, Obama 'stammered' a lot. This was a trembeling/shakiness in his voice. Not a stammer, more an emotional type of thing.

My wife even heard it when pointed out.

 

But in all fairness that is not difficult. A 5 year old with learning difficulties would come over better than Bush.

I would put it at 50/50 in tonight's debate looking at it, I'm actually looking forward to the VP debate more than this one.

 

If couric got Palin over a barrel look out for the Gaffes.

 

Obama stammered but he did not sound bad.

 

Yes both stammered at times, I'll take it as you did not hear the shakiness I'm talking about

I knew I should have had the dvr tape it, watched it live so figured no reason to.

 

I expected Obama to be more aggressive.

 

I'm not quite sure, I am not disagreeing you.

 

What a surprise: Two Obama supporters saying he won the debate.

It looked like a draw to me. I also look forward to the train wreck that will be the VP debate.

 

First of all, I'd credit Lehrer with an excellent airing of views.

I also thought both candidates acquitted themselves quite well, posed their respective (and very different, on some areas) worldviews, and it would be tough to say one was a "winner."

Because of this, I'd hand the net positive to Obama - one, because he did demonstrate a deep and encyclopedic grasp of a good many things the putative rep has him weak on, spoke crisply and assertively on a host of areas where it was not expected he would do well on; He dispelled this.

Secondly, given the debacle of this week and McCain's troubled ride through that debacle, I do think McCain needed to nail Obama to the floor. He flatly did not - most especially, his continual refrain that Obama simply "doesn't understand" (e.g., the "difference between tactic and strategy"), simply fell flat. Much like Obama's early gaffe in the primary debate, when he said to Hillary Clinton "you're likeable enough, Hillary" this kind of dismissive attack backfired on McCain, and it won't read well as a lingering memory. He came off looking like a saturnine, bitter old guy, and in doing so, he missed the very paradigm shift that has helped bring Obama to where he is; relatedly, with Hmansfield, I do feel that McCain seemed stuck in some talking points from the past, and it didn't go over well - across all 3 demographic sectors.

In essence, a "draw" in this debate (ostensibly on foreign policy) is a win for Obama generally, in my opinion. My off the cuff appraisal.

 

I think he might be more so in the next debate. As McWar agrees with about 90% of what Bush has done Obama has got loads of ammunition.

 

Well, McCain needed to prove something more than Obama

 

Yes, I did, Grim. There were a lot of moments when his native tendency to being a pretty choleric guy almost got away from him, and it didn't go over well at all.

 

I don't think he looked "a saturnine, bitter old guy," not at all. I don't think either person won votes with the debate. The Obama fans says he won and the McCain fans say he won.

 

The official statement of McCain's camp is rubbish. Can't they afford a good copywriter?

 

I thought just the opposite. I think possibly in order to make sure he doesn't look like a bitter old guy, he's constantly snickering and laughing during Obama's time. He did that during the primary debates as well. It makes him look like a smart ass. Just my opinion.

 

I thought both were respectful, That's just my 2 cents.

 

According to the audience meter of independents, who is needed to win, Obama by far won that. Several times carrying all 3.

Even republicans looks less than passionate about McCain's answers, being pretty flat.

I know it doesn't mean much, was interesting none the less.