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Sunday 27 May 2012

Friday, 26th September 2008

McCain must win tonight's debate to get his campaign back on track

James Forsyth 7:56pm

John McCain will attend tonight’s debate despite there not yet being a deal on the bailout. Realistically, McCain couldn’t afford to miss it. Obama’s biggest weakness is still the Commander in Chief test: McCain has to ram home the point that he is significantly better qualified for this role than Obama if he is to have a real chance of winning the election.

McCain also has to better Obama tonight to regain momentum. The last week of presidential campaign coverage has been dominated by a string of stories that hurt McCain. First, there was the row over McCain’s campaign manager’s alleged ties to Freddie Mac. Second, there was the Sarah Palin's appalling interview performance on the CBS News which made even some of her most ardent supporters think twice about whether she is up to the job. And most importantly there was the financial crisis where McCain has been all over the lot. His decision to suspend his campaign and say that he’d skip the debate if there wasn’t a deal appeared more rash than statesmanlike while Obama’s cool demeanor worked in his favour, making him appear presidential.

The first debate is normally the most watched of the presidential debates and the event of the past week and the interest in this election—look at the record convention viewing figures—should ensure a particularly large audience. A clear win tonight would give McCain a much needed boost and stop Obama pulling away in the polls, Obama’s lead is now basically back to where it was straight after the Democratic convention By contrast, if Obama wins tonight then he will be on his way to gaining an insurmountable lead.

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Verity

September 27th, 2008 3:27am Report this comment

McCain was far superior to Obama. I'd say in this first debate, it was 63-47.

Obama just doesn't have the international experience. He looked as though he didn't recognise half the countries that McCain was talking about in E Europe regarding the Russian aggression in Georgia. Obama just didn't have the knowledge and doesn't have the experience, and nor does he have the vision.

Another thing, Obama kept referring to Senator McCain as "John" - sloppy, ill-disciplined manners. McCain consistently referred to Obama courteously as Senator Obama. Obama looked like the parvenu he is.

Next up, Sarah Palin and Joe Biden on 2 October. She'll wipe the floor with Biden. What a jerk. I can't wait.

My view, McCain won the first round handily.

Verity

September 27th, 2008 3:38am Report this comment

Should have been 63-37, of course.

Verity

September 27th, 2008 4:17am Report this comment

Drudge poll saying 3 to 1 for McCain.

American bookies putting McCain up 3 points.

Ian Burgess

September 27th, 2008 5:24am Report this comment

I just watched the debate on ABC. It was very high quality from both candidates; the best debate in decades (only the Cheney-Lieberman VP debate in 2000 came close to this). For the first time in ages the agreed format allowed for discussion and argument between the candidates, so it was more like "Question Time" but without the audience participation.

Obama and McCain both made strong arguments and scored points. McCain was passionate about Iraq, Obama equally so about Afghanistan. Obama handled the Iraq question well; he was attacked for being willing to talk with the government but used Henry Kissinger quotes to fight back back.

On the whole, I think Obama edged it, though it was very close. He handled McCain's attacks slightly better, while McCain seemed to struggle at times to put together his rebuttals.

This voter is still floating. next up Biden-Palin; which could be compelling for very different reasons!

But how you yearn for such an election debate in Britain!

THX1138

September 27th, 2008 8:31am Report this comment

"McCain must win tonight's debate to get his campaign back on track"

"An immediate telephone poll by CNN and Opinion Research Corp found 51% said Mr Obama had done the better job, to 38% for Mr McCain"

"A poll of uncommitted voters by CBS News found that 39% gave Mr Obama victory, 25% thought John McCain had won, and 36% thought it was a draw."

Is it all over for McOver then?

THX1138

September 27th, 2008 2:29pm Report this comment

Verity - "McCain was far superior to Obama."

Not according to the American people when polled by CNN.

Thinking about the following characteristics and qualities, please say whether you think each one better described Barack Obama or John McCain during tonight's debate:

• Was more intelligent: Obama 55%, McCain 30%

• Expressed his views more clearly: Obama 53%, McCain 36%

• Spent more time attacking his opponent: McCain 60%, Obama 23%

• Was more sincere and authentic: Obama 46%, McCain 38%

• Seemed to be the stronger leader: Obama 49%, McCain 43%

• Was more likeable: Obama 61%, McCain 26%

• Was more in touch with the needs and problems of people like you: Obama 62%, McCain 32%

To quote Colbert again

"We know that polls are just a collection of statistics that reflect what people are thinking in "reality.

" And reality has a well-known liberal bias."

Verity

September 27th, 2008 3:08pm Report this comment

Iain Burgess - We were watching two different debates. Obama was nervous and deferential and floundering. He didn't know his stuff - and indeed, how could he have boned up in a few short weeks on the encylopaedic knowledge of foreign affairs that John McCain has absorbed on the ground over 30 years.

Immediately after the debate, the Drudge poll show that McCain quickly racked up 66% approval against the Chosen One's 33 per cent. Other polls showed similar results although, to everyone's amazement, the MSM gave it to the Obamessiah.

During this campaign, Obama has been playing on his "youth" (at 47!) and I don't believe the American voter wants a youth to see them through this horrendously complex international financial crisis.

More impressive still, 15 minutes after the debate ended, someone put a link up, and it was a commercial McCain's people had put together in ten minutes, comprising the occasions during the debate when Obama said, "I agree with Senator McCain." It was hysterical.

Meanwhile, John McCain had got on his plane and gone straight back to DC to continue working on the international crisis.

Obama came across as weak, weak, weak.

Austin Barry

September 27th, 2008 3:16pm Report this comment

Unhappily, Obama won this event, but ultimately it may not matter. My suspicion is that Joe Paycheck in Palookaville USA will pull the plug on the effete, self-regarding and superficial Obama. Had Obama been in the Hanoi Hilton with McCain he would've burst into tears once he'd discovered there was no room service. An unlikely event: you just know that Obama is one of life's draft dodgers.