It had the feel of Cheney violating Edwards in every way possible in a debate back in the VP debate of ‘04. Of course, nothing can really ever match that bloodletting.
But McCain definitely hit Obama hard. I think Obama was deft and for those who care about appearances more than substance, he appeared to be holding his own. But when thinking about what was said, McCain definitely won. McCain could’ve scored a knockout by tying the current bailout issue to the Dems’ love of Fannie/Freddie and push of mortgages to people with bad or no credit, along with Obama’s fundraising from those companies.
I know it’s petty , but i think that bracelet thing will leave a mark. People like it simple. Remember Potatoe ?
It appeared to me that, at the beginning of the debate, McCain was trying to portray himself as a consensus builder, someone who can work with both sides of the aisle, as opposed to Obama who consistently attacks Republicans. I don’t think that McCain wanted to come across as laying all of the blame on the Democrats for the financial mess, since he is still trying to work with all parties to craft a solution to the nation’s financial problem. It seemed to me that this was an attempt by McCain to appeal to the undecided moderates and independents, since he didn’t need to appease the Conservatives who are going to vote for him. I am not sure McCain succeeded.
I thought McCain did much better in the second half of the debate when he focused more on policy and his experience.
I thought Obama came across as someone who can be rattled. His facial expressions and head shaking when McCain jabbed him reminded me of Al Gore’s antics in the first debate with Bush - amateurish in a diplomatic setting.
I don’t know if anyone else noticed but, while McCain mentioned the need to protect Israel and Jews several times, Obama did not mention either even once unless I missed it. The debate was supposed to be about foreign policy and Obama doesn’t even mention the only true friend that America has in the Middle East? Will that go unnoticed by American Jews?
Although Obama was more eloquent, I thought that McCain got the better of the “quips” – “hard to reach across the aisle when you are that far left” – “so Iran says they are going to wipe Israel off the face of the earth and we say no you’re not?”
As I anticipated, Obama won on style and McCain won on substance. The loser was the moderator.
I guess we will find out whether style or substance is more important to the majority of the American electorate on November 4th.
McCain could’ve scored a knockout by tying the current bailout issue to the Dems’ love of Fannie/Freddie and push of mortgages to people with bad or no credit, along with Obama’s fundraising from those companies.He's got another chance in the next debate. We should all email the McCain campaign and BEG them to start using this against the dems and their OMessiah.
Just imagine if Cheney was debating the "The One" instead of McCain
McCain maybe many (good) things, but he's no Dick Cheney.
I would pay to watch a Cheney-Obama debate