[meatfinger]

Impressions?

I thought that McCain's strategy was pretty obvious: paint Obama as the naive kid while peppering his own statements with personal stories to illustrate his experience. Throughout the whole thing it really just seemed like he was using pithy anecdotes as a form of emotional manipulation. I also was turned off by his condescending tone. It seemed like he was setting up one straw-man after another and repeating himself over and over without engaging many of Obama's points.

Obama, on the other hand, was logically solid. He's a poised and confident speaker. Many Americans might come away without being able to gain a true sense for Obama as a human being, though. Where McCain's statements were overladen with personal stories, Obama's were lacking in that area.

I guess for me, neither candidate was able to strike the balance. I think Obama performed more impressively, but then again I liked him more in the first place.

Anyway, what are your thoughts?

[jthomas1600]

I was not able to watch the debate, I am on the boat, but I have been on watch since midnight and listened to the last hour replayed and an hour of CNN and an hour of FOX evaluate the debate. The first thing I noticed is that the two net works paint a very different picture of what happened--no surprise, just interesting. Also "condescending" I think depends on who you like--many people thought it was not appropriate for Obama to call McCain "John" through out the debate. As far as the content of what either man said nothing surprised or impressed me. It does seem that McCain may be winning the post debate "ploitics". His ran an add right away quoting all the instances where Obama said "he's right", "I agree with John" etc. I know these thing were not in context in the adds, but that's how political adds go. Also the two men had a pretty good back and fourth about Henry Kissinger and some statements Obama said he had made. Right after the debate Kissinger made a statement saying he doesn't agree with everything McCain said but on this point McCain had it right.

[JerryLove]

McCain had a more aggressive and more personal argument. Obama seemed more specific on what he was going to do, and more willing to give praise on common ground.

If I had listened to it in the background (tones and such) I think I would have leaned slightly McCain... but I found him the more repetitious, and too prone to avoid talking policy by name dropping... a red-herring.

To me they came out pretty even, with a bit of a lean towards Obama. Considering this is McCains strongest suiete, that's not good news for McCain.

[Jeffrey]

Obama was too polite - meaning that when McCain would say something patently false, and Obama would start to speak up, he'd back down when McCain kept rambling. Far too often, Obama opted to let the debate move to a new topic rather than mount a full rebuttal. Obama was willing to rebutt policy, but when McCain mischaracterized his past votes and bills, Obama was too polite and didn't tear back into him. He needed to.

McCain also abruptly changed topics at several points, dragging discussions back to the military and energy when the question had been pointed elsewhere.

[slap_j]

Originally Posted by JerryLove

To me they came out pretty even, with a bit of a lean towards Obama. Considering this is McCains strongest suiete, that's not good news for McCain.

This is what CNN concluded. Their survey included more Democrats than Republicans but even if you take that into account and call it a draw it's still better for Obama considering the widening gap in the polls.

If Obama can be more aggressive then it will be a lot more difficult for McCain to gain any traction. Most of the points he scored was from getting Obama on the defensive.

[MrCrabby]

I only watched a portion of the debate, but I was bugged by the fact that Obama never specifically answered the question of what spending he would cut in a time of national crisis. Although McCain's "spending freeze" may be equally frightening.
Maybe he was trying to gain some Ron Paul fans with that one...

[JerryLove]

Originally Posted by MrCrabby

I only watched a portion of the debate, but I was bugged by the fact that Obama never specifically answered the question of what spending he would cut in a time of national crisis. Although McCain's "spending freeze" may be equally frightening.
Maybe he was trying to gain some Ron Paul fans with that one...

Neithr one offered a real answer.

I am a little surprised that Obama didn't call out McCain on his claim that he would stop all earmarks. He's indicated in several instances earmarks he supports; making his little bit with the pin hyperbole.

[Rainer.]

Both of them stuck quite fast to the talking points that have driven both of their campaigns at least from the conventions. This is as much of a debate tie as I've ever seen. McCain supporters think McCain won, and Obama supporters think Obama won, while the middle leans every which way. This is gonna be quite the close election.

[MrCrabby]

Originally Posted by JerryLove

Neithr one offered a real answer.

Agreed.

Originally Posted by No bRainer.

Both of them stuck quite fast to the talking points that have driven both of their campaigns at least from the conventions. This is as much of a debate tie as I've ever seen. McCain supporters think McCain won, and Obama supporters think Obama won, while the middle leans every which way. This is gonna be quite the close election.

Of all the opinions I've seen and read, I haven't heard anyone say that they were swayed either way because of this debate.

Are each of the campaigns just playing it safe at this point?

[nbfan]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey

Obama was too polite - meaning that when McCain would say something patently false, and Obama would start to speak up, he'd back down when McCain kept rambling. Far too often, Obama opted to let the debate move to a new topic rather than mount a full rebuttal. Obama was willing to rebutt policy, but when McCain mischaracterized his past votes and bills, Obama was too polite and didn't tear back into him. He needed to.

McCain also abruptly changed topics at several points, dragging discussions back to the military and energy when the question had been pointed elsewhere.

McCain wasn't the only one doing that, IMO, I saw that happening from both of them.

When all was said and done, I think Obama seemed to be the more 'confident' speaker of the two, but nothing in this debate has changed my opinions about the candidates.

[Chrysostom]

I loved the "audience reaction meter" and "critics' scorecards." And by "loved" I mean "there is a reason I watched less than 30 seconds of the debate and will not watch any further debate coverage."

[Ax]

presidential debates are idiotic by nature. You should stop watching them. That being said I didn't watch this one but I could have summed it up as well as you guys without watching it. Too predictable...

[Mr. claw]

Originally Posted by Chrysostom

I loved the "audience reaction meter" and "critics' scorecards." And by "loved" I mean "there is a reason I watched less than 30 seconds of the debate and will not watch any further debate coverage."

I was thoroughly disgusted with that. It was like those annoying pop up commercials TNT shows in the bottom corner when I'm trying to watch basketball.

[ApparentlyNothing]

The thing I think is worth considering though is that in a debate centering around foreign policy, if no one was swayed, that seems like a win for Obama. Considering McCain's experience, he should have owned.