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Is 'aloof' Barack Obama over-prepping for the first debate?
Telegraph Blogs ^ | September 23, 2008 | Philip Sherwell

Posted on 09/23/2008 12:52:36 PM PDT by Schnucki

If Barack Obama doesn't do well in Friday's first presidential debate with John McCain, he won't be able to blame a lack of preparation. In fact, over-preparation could be more of a problem for a man who is a fine orator but a less skilled debator.

The Democrat has already headed to Tampa, Florida, to hole up with his advisors for several days of prepping on foreign policy and national security matters - the subject matter for the Mississippi debate.

The Republicans are already mocking Sen Obama's "foreign policy camp". In fact, I'd think there's a real danger that all this swatting up may just exacerbate his tendency to appear overly analytical and aloof in a debate format. Remember his incredibly ill-judged "above my pay grade" answer when asked when he thought life began in the recent Saddleback religious forum.

He certainly needs to persuade doubters that he is fit to be commander-in-chief, but he also needs to come a bit more like Average Joe if he is to pass the famous "beer test" of who voters would rather have a drink with.

The Obama camp is clearly leaving no detail to chance. Veteran Washington lawyer Greg Craig, one of the few grey-haired insiders in Team Obama, is role-playing the 72-year-old Sen McCain in mock debates in Florida.

The McCain campaign is not answering questions about its own debate preparations, although it has denied a report that Michael Steele, a prominent black Republican, is acting as an Obama stand-in.

In such a close race and with the world's financial markets in turmoil, Friday night's showdown is predicted to beat the record of 62 million viewers set by a Bush-Kerry debate four years ago.

There will be two more presidential debates in October. And Sarah Palin and Joe Biden are also

(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Politics
KEYWORDS: 2008; debate; debates; democrats; elections; obama; obambiden; presidentialdebates

1 posted on 09/23/2008 12:52:36 PM PDT by Schnucki
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To: Schnucki

Let him overprep. Without his teleprompter, he loses the “skilled orator” advantage. By overprepping, he eats up valuable campaigning time.


2 posted on 09/23/2008 12:59:06 PM PDT by Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus (Here they come boys! As thick as grass, and as black as thunder!)
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To: Schnucki
In such a close race and with the world's financial markets in turmoil, Friday night's showdown is predicted to beat the record of 62 million viewers set by a Bush-Kerry debate four years ago.

Sadly, half of them will not know what to think until they hear the MSM's "analysis" of the debates (and see the "unbiased polls").

3 posted on 09/23/2008 12:59:31 PM PDT by Cementjungle
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To: Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus

A “skilled orator” doesn’t need a teleprompter to deliver a stump speech he’s been giving for over a year.. this guys no skilled orator, he’s a skilled reader, there’s a huge difference.


4 posted on 09/23/2008 1:03:22 PM PDT by HamiltonJay
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To: Schnucki
Advisors close to the McCain campaign have admitted their stand in for Barack Obama is this:


5 posted on 09/23/2008 1:04:43 PM PDT by smith288 (Maverick - Barracuda 08! Http://www.cafepress.com/smith288)
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To: Cementjungle
Sadly, half of them will not know what to think until they hear the MSM's "analysis" of the debates (and see the "unbiased polls").

Isn't that the truth. I have said for quite some time that people are just to damn lazy to do their own research. They'd rather watch tv at 6:30pm & have Brian Williams et al TELL them how to feeeeeel.

A sad commentary to be sure.

6 posted on 09/23/2008 1:08:55 PM PDT by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
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To: smith288
Absolutley perfect.

ROTFLMAO!!!!!

7 posted on 09/23/2008 1:09:53 PM PDT by Ultimatum (Resposibility is more than a virtue, IMHO.)
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To: Schnucki

The MSM will provide Obama with the questions beforehand. He can then memorize the answers.


8 posted on 09/23/2008 1:12:58 PM PDT by kabar (.)
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To: Schnucki
In this debate I feel that McCain is going to dominate. He's a cool cucumber and stays relatively calm. Obama under pressure if you watch closely often flusters and gets antsy, he starts to stutter slightly and when he reaches for words they are not the right ones. I think from now until the election the commentators on TV should just stop talking, watch the debates, go to the websites of the candidates watch their speeches on the campaign trail and make a decision. NO more biased commentators arguing about the candidates, it is giving me migraines.
Also even though I love Palin to death, I thought of something funny soon as I read this,
they say she has no foreign policy experience yet the great and all knowing Obama is having to do a cram session? Sheesh, maybe they can let her sit in and copy notes. Honestly experience level between the two, he campaigned the last 18 months while she was I dunno working at her job as Governor? DUH.........
9 posted on 09/23/2008 1:15:21 PM PDT by jennguhl (Let's stop letting the minority dictate the majority.)
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To: jennguhl

So, Palin was criticized for being “prepped” but it’s a good thing for Obama? He needs to be prepped on HIS OWN positions, the ones he’s been running on for almost 2 whole years?


10 posted on 09/23/2008 1:54:14 PM PDT by Dianna
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