Poll: McCain's Challenge At Debate Tonight Is Formidable
Here, courtesy of the new NBC/WSJ poll's internals, are some key numbers to chew over as we head into tonight's debate:
* Thirty-four percent feel more reassured by Obama's approach to dealing with the current financial crisis, versus 25% for McCain. Meanwhile, only 29% feel less reassured by Obama, versus 38% for McCain.
* Obama-Biden slaughtered McCain-Palin in the last two debates, with 50% saying Obama-Biden did a better job, versus only 29% for McCain-Palin.
* Obama's advantage on the economy in general is formidable: 46% say Obama would be better on that issue, versus 29% for McCain.
* Obama holds a sizable edge on other domestic issues polled here, including the mortgage and housing crisis, and energy and the cost of gas.
The upshot: As many others have observed, the pressure on McCain tonight to do something to jolt the electorate into seeing this race in a new way is now enormous. The race's dynamic is hardening by the hour: The public has gotten a close look at the candidates in debate settings, and feel more reassured by Obama-Biden on the issues that matter to them.
The problem for McCain is that he needs to go hard-negative in a dramatic, confrontational, attention-grabbing fashion, most likely on Obama's associations, which of course risks looking desperate and allows Obama to remind voters that McCain's own senior adviser said the McCain team doesn't want to talk about the economic crisis.
Tonight's debate, and the public's response to it, will tell us whether the race has come to resemble quicksand: The more McCain and Palin thrash around, the quicker they sink.
Ooo Greggy - formidable?
Gee, I am getting the idea you don't like McLame - Painful -
LOLOLOLOL!!!!!!
October 7, 2008 10:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think McCain will do reasonably well in tonight's debate given that it is a townhall format, and the moderator Tom Brokaw is one of his close friends, so he'll get softball questions.
October 7, 2008 10:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think all of the questions come from the audience and the internet, pre-screened, and there's no follow-up by the moderator.
October 7, 2008 11:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, Brokaw gets to pick the questions and Ben Smith at Politico said that Brokaw didn't agree to the debate agreement not to do follow-up questions, so he may do them.
October 7, 2008 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here's what Palin just said at the rally:
http://news.jacksonville.com/elections2008/live-coverage-of-palins-visit/
October 7, 2008 10:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
And more from that odious witch:
October 7, 2008 10:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Seeing as she lies as easily as she winks, I have to wonder what she is distorting when she claims Obama's team says 'no knowledge at the time' of Ayers' background.
It is of course a distraction, and there are far more odious and relevant Bad Associations(tm) on the Palin / McCain ticket (we all know 'em, no need to list here).
The idea is to paint Obama as a liar and a sneak. Priceless, when you consider the source.
BTW: Jesus' General.(NSFW) My pick for funniest blog entry of the day.
October 7, 2008 12:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
How can McCain whip up anger against Obama without seeming angry?
That's a needle that I seriously doubt he can thread, even with Brokaw holding his hand throughout the evening. You can't teach an old dog new tricks.
October 7, 2008 10:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Im sure McCain's buddy Brokaw will throw him a favor or two.
October 7, 2008 10:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Brokaw may have enough of his own ego wrapped around him that public perception of him isn't that big a deal to him - on the other hand, every reporter out there is chomping at the bit to get ahold of Sarah Palin and make themselves into the kind of figure Katie Couric managed - she's suddenly taken seriously; she did herself quite a bit of good.
Journalists will follow the trend. But Brokaw I don't know - he's been around so long and loves himself so much, who knows.
October 7, 2008 10:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Part of my hope is in the crowd. Many of them are not going to be quiet if an inane and irrelevant question is chosen.
October 7, 2008 10:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Plus the viewers with their hand on the button can penalize Brokaw for bad questions. I hope they will.
October 7, 2008 10:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's encouraging.
I didn't know there was an audience with some control.
October 7, 2008 10:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, they don't have real "control" - but I'm thinking of those "lines" where they can express approval or disapproval. And for all you know, Brokaw's crew will keep an eye on that - and feed him info. They should!
October 7, 2008 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
How is the crowd being selected? Was it just first-come, first-serve? If it was, don't expect a lot of crowd support for Obama. McCain is way up in Tennessee.
October 7, 2008 11:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
I heard on the radio today that it was randomly chose by Gallup of local Nashville voters.
October 7, 2008 11:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
And Nashville isn't like the rest of Tennessee.
October 7, 2008 12:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
After Chicken George and his pal over at ABC did their thing I dont put anything past these frauds.
I just don't see Brokaw not softballing Johnny and hitting Obama below the belt.
October 7, 2008 10:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well she's definitely in barracuda mode now.
She's preaching to one hell of a volatile choir and if anyone from her audiences tries anything I hope to hell she and McLame get the blame. That's so fucking dangerous -
October 7, 2008 10:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think Barack and Joe like BBQ'd baracuda!! No "mccain sauce," it's too bitter.
October 7, 2008 10:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's time for the MSM to take Palin down with her slingling of crap and "hate" speech. Why cover someone who is running from the public and media and feels that she can lie and lis-lead poeple.
October 7, 2008 10:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here's what I think the media should do:
Equip every reporter and camera person (attending rallies of the Vendetta Twins) with a flack jacket and helmet. Make it known. Show the footage.
That would do more than words. More than anything. It would protect the press. And make it evident that chaos and anarchy were being incited at mcShame Vendetta Events.
October 7, 2008 10:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
McCain is probably going to try to manufacturer a controversy tonight. He'll take umbrage at some harmless comment in a way that only old cranky white people can do. He needs the drama. He's going to take his war medals out of his pocket and shove them in Obama's face or something. I predict some sort of prop popping up.
October 7, 2008 10:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Umbrage. Yup!
October 7, 2008 10:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
I can see it now: McCain goes Pulp fiction (as modified for debate)
Five long years, he wore this watch up his ass. Then when he died of dysentery, he gave me the watch. I hid this uncomfortable piece of metal up my ass for two years. Then, after seven years, I was sent home to my family. And now, little man, I give the watch to you.
October 7, 2008 11:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wasn't it common knowledge around here before the first debate that the "debates don't matter"? Obama and Biden both proved that wrong, with the polls now all topsy-turvey.
All Obama has to do is show up and be himself. I don't think he ought to be in coast mode yet, but I think McCain's bullshit is now pretty much a non-issue. I mean, what can he pull out of his hat?
October 7, 2008 12:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Palin may be firing up her own base, but does anyone in McCain's camp think this is actually going to work on moderate Republicans or Independents?
October 7, 2008 10:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's the question, innit?
What are they doing? There's not enough of that base - are they trying to preserve a core to rebuild on? I can't figure it out -
October 7, 2008 10:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
Digging themselves deeper they are. Spinning wheels.
October 7, 2008 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
You know what I think, I think that McCain is not even really trying to win at this point. No one legitimately aiming to win would announce that they plan to cut Medicare benefits for wealthy seniors. This is political suicide, especially for a Republican because a Republican needs Florida in order to win. The fact that McCain's campaign was willing to say that yesterday suggests to me that he is no longer seriously aiming for victory. Instead, I think that the plan is just to 1) rally the base to get them juiced about the party and 2) beat up on Obama enough to take his favorable ratings down a notch or two. The goal is not to win this year, but rather to lay the foundations for an effort to retake one or both houses of Congress in the 2010 midterms.
October 7, 2008 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
You know what, I think you're right.
He's just determined to sully Obama as much as possible before he's gone.
Clinton seemed determined to do that same thing at the end of the primaries - with her, who knows? I think she was playing hardball politics. McLame is just fucking furious. That's all there is to that. He cannot believe he's losing especially to a bi-racial candidate.
I am just sure CooCoo promised McLame the presidency. That's one way he kept him close in '04. Bush kept McLame close like he did because he knew McLame was an enemy and he needed to be watched. And Bush never intended to help McLame and will not as if Bush had any help he could offer anyone. He's totally irrelevant at this point - in fact, it's almost shocking the extent to which this most hated president has all but disappeared.
October 7, 2008 11:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
I wouldn't count on this being a giving up tactic. I suspect that the only internals they have where Obama is hurting is on issues of Obama's past, whether it is that voters claim they do not "know him" or that he is "inexperienced." It's all that the McCain camp's got at this point. They're polling terribly on almost every other issue, it seems, so they're playing it to the hilt. I think they're overplaying it, just like they've overplayed everything in the campaign since Schmidt took over. They seem tone deaf toward independents. I actually think a similar strategy (executed much more reasonably and moderately, rather than through fear mongering and temper tantrums) might have worked at one point, but since they have started this so late, they have to make the message over the top in order for it to get covered. And we can only hope that it is turning off independents as much as their negative attacks did in the debates.
And let's hope Obama doesn't "take off the gloves" in tonight's debate. I know that we all want him to, but I suspect that the team has done so well in the debates because they appear to answer the questions and seem reasonable and reassuring. The more McCain screams that Obama isn't trustworthy, the more his statements are falsified by Obama's measured demeanor.
October 7, 2008 11:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Fine. I see the sense of what you are saying here, but I still come back to the question of why in God's own name would the McCain camp announce that they plan to fund their health plan by cutting Medicare benefits. Sure, that plays well to the hard-core conservative base that hates government entitlements, but it is political suicide among Florida retirees. In other words, their campaign yesterday deliberately chose to cost themselves independent swing votes in a very critical swing state in exchange for a more energized base. I can only make sense of that choice if I postulate that they are giving this election up for lost and simply looking farther down the road.
October 7, 2008 12:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
It may be that they are giving up Florida as lost, but not the whole election. It may also be yet another sign that the McCain campaign is abysmal at message control. In that sense, they are not like the Rove-Bush model at all.
I think it could also be representative of the tension going on with McCain throughout this campaign: his self-fashioned (albeit false) image to which he is intensely attached versus his willingness to sell his soul and body in order to win the election. Even though all empirical evidence demonstrates his crap is bunk, I think the guy really believes his own hype, and on some level, he clings to the idea that his reasoning will influence voters because it just *should.* This is why he goes on an on about earmarks even though no polling data has ever supported this has been very effective. But in McCain's own mind, I really think he believes this is somehow essential to who he is. I suspect the same thing might be true about Medicare. He knows it must be cut to fund his tax cuts, so he is being "honest" with the American people in a way that Obama isn't. In some ways, he still seems to think this is 1996 or something.
Don't get me wrong: I think this is 100% delusional. But I think this is a man who really believes the spin he's created about himself, and he believes that the world just ought to operate the way he says it should. In those moments: earmarks and Medicare. But another part of him knows that he will not win doing this, and in these moments of desperation he fires his campaign staff and brings on Eskew to do the dirty work. I think we should definitely hold him accountable for all of this fear mongering hate speech, but I think he's convinced himself somehow that that's not really him, but just the way to win elections. (See: confederate flag in SC in 2000.) He can't follow through all the way, though, because he is in love with himself and thinks he deserves to be president. So he turns around and tries to say reasonable stuff or "talk straight." It just confuses and irritates voters, but he can't seem to stop himself.
October 7, 2008 12:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tacking on to your point, it also seems they're grooming Palin for a run in 2012.
October 7, 2008 1:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think that Obama's task tonight is more formidable than McCain's:
1) McCain, for better or worse, is more comfortable in town hall atmospheres than Obama;
2) McCain is unpredictable, while Obama is steadier. Who knows what McCain will pull out of his hat tonight? It is easier for McCain to prepare for Obama than vice versa.
October 7, 2008 10:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
I've seen Obama in a town-hall type meeting. He was great!
October 7, 2008 10:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
I so disagree and I'm so not worried.
I think there's a better than 50-50 chance McLame will blow sky-high.
October 7, 2008 10:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Even if it isn't sky high, McCain doesn't come across well when he's peeved. Actually I think there are few politicians who can go on the attack in a townhall setting and make it work. Especially in an atmosphere where people are craving solutions, not smears.
October 7, 2008 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
word
October 7, 2008 10:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
And how can he not be PO'd? He's worked himself into such a lather the last two days (indeed prior to and throughout the first debate), that I think his emotion will be palpable and boiling. I look for some thing to pop in McCain tonite that leads to contempt, outright anger, SOMETHING.
And I hope those watching have a moment of "WTF?" when they see it.
Working the phones last nite for the WI Dems, there were a whole bunch of undecideds in my VERY conservative county. Two weeks ago, there were many more Repub-backers. I think things have changed for the better in two weeks for Obama at least in my locale.
October 7, 2008 11:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
So many people want Obama signs - and nary one to be found!
October 7, 2008 11:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
Word up. These are supposedly undecided voters, not rabid partisans. I don't know what McBush is trying to do getting all personal and stuff knowing he has to face a bunch of supposedly undecided voters on Tuesday night. How do you just turn this stuff on and off? Mac had better watch out, or he'll get his ass handed to him on a paper plate.
October 7, 2008 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
I too think that Obama will do fine.
My original statement of caveat perhaps comes from the fact that I am a NY Giants fan from back in the days when Joe Pisarcik infamously snatched defeat from the jaws of victory against the Eagles.
My concern also stems from watching Dem candidacies blow up in the waning moments of Presidential campaigns.
Whether or not Obama does well, I do think that he absolutely has a greater challenge in preparing than McCain. McCain's unpredictability is the X Factor for tonight.
October 7, 2008 10:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think you need to be more specific about Dems waning. After two debates in the past two presidential elections, both Gore and Kerry were down, and the numbers were trending away from them. In fact, based on pollster.com's graph, it looks like that Gore's end number ended up exceeding polls' predictions immediately before the race, though only by 2 points.
Don't get so caught up in the media hype that elections can be won and lost in the final few days. That might be true given our new 24 hour news cycle, but it might not. It certainly wasn't true historically. And I think so much of this noise on tv is something people are tuning out by this point. I'm not saying it's a lock for Obama, but most pollsters are indicating that at this point, people's opinions are solidifying and they are much harder to sway.
And I think McCain's unpredictability has shown itself to be a rather significant deficit among non-hard-core Republicans. After Bush, people don't want unpredictable.
October 7, 2008 11:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Speaking as a long suffering Eagles fan who remembers that play all I can say is, at least the Giants have won a Super Bowl(s).
October 7, 2008 12:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm kinda hoping his skin turns green and he starts smashing everything in sight.
October 7, 2008 1:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain's townhall experience is mainly with friendly crowds that toss him softball questions. And he didn't have an opponent (whom he dislikes intensely) sharing the stage. Plus, this is really is for all the marbles from the McCain camp's pov. So how he has done in the past is not that much to go on.
October 7, 2008 10:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with you. McCain and Palin are throwing shit bombs without regard to the truth. Obama can come off too hot or too cool. He has a very tough job. Nothing is in the bag. I look for tonight to be a really good night for McCain. Never forget it is going to be two v. one in the debate. Brokaw, like nearly all of the millionaire network taking heads, is an unabashed McCain supporter.
October 7, 2008 11:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
The idea that McCain is much better in town hall meetings is a line put out by the campaign this summer in support of their "ten town halls" tactic, but there isn't a lot of evidence that it's true. Basically, their argument seemed to be that because Obama is better in nearly every other format, and McCain doesn't completely suck at town halls, that must mean that McCain is great at town halls. It didn't add up then, and it doesn't now, but we should use it to raise expectations nonetheless.
October 7, 2008 12:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nice metaphor for what's going on.
I think even McShame and Failin -- or at least their handlers -- have to recognize that they can't win in the current environment and that their shit-throwing is more likely to boomerang and hit them in the face than taint Obama. (See, your metaphor is way better.)
What I'm most scared about is that what they're really trying to do is unleash the crazies convinced that Obama is the anti-Christ. They're out there and if they think McShame has given them the green light to do their thing, that would be the worst possible nightmare.
October 7, 2008 10:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Quicksand. Sinking.
http://picasaweb.google.com/warpstation/MccainHeadache#5251640084526955554
October 7, 2008 10:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
I am also afraid they are tying to unleash the crazies. It only takes one nut job to sink America into a national nightmare. It would seem that McCain and especially Palin are trying to incite violence.
October 7, 2008 11:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Win at all costs -- that's their strategy. If the ballot box won't do it, they seem to be willing to do the unthinkable.
October 7, 2008 2:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Some other thoughts about the contenders. Obama's voice is reassuring. It "holds" you. His speech cadence is slow and calm. Soothing. So you listen to his words, which make sense.
mcShame, on the other hand, is wired tight. His jaw alone is off-putting. He rushes into sentences in ways that leave a viewer in the dust. There's no "there" there. You flinch or tune out. The man is gripped by rage and resentment. You have the sense he's one breath away from punching somebody out.
Given a choice, most sane viewers will gravitate to the tall, thin guy who seems to know where he's going and doesn't need to punch anyone out on his way there. Indeed, he calls you to come along with him. The road he sees ahead may be a hard one, the journey difficult, but he gives you the sense we're all in this together. We can do it. We'll make it work.
October 7, 2008 10:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
So far, my dear TheraP, that's exactly what is happening.
:)
October 7, 2008 10:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think you've got it, Thera. Remember what happened in the primaries -- at a certain point, it was clear that Sen. Obama would win the nomination, yet he couldn't "finish off" Sen. Clinton by going too negative on her because he needed her supporters to back him once he had secured the nomination. He's doing something similar during October. It seems to me that his internal polling has indicated that a significant majority of the "undecideds" are willing to back him and are leaning toward him, but they need that final reassurance that he can do the job before feeling secure in voting for him. That's why I don't think we'll see him go too negative in the next few weeks (besides the "angry black man" thing). He doesn't need to get the base jazzed. He simply needs to reassure the middle, which is what I imagine we'll see tonight.
October 7, 2008 11:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Plus, it fits with his personality. The guy is steady. He's presidential. A president should not be dividing the nation. (which is why mcShame is unfit)
October 7, 2008 11:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe they'll have Mac on some meds or something. Wouldn't that be fun to watch?
October 7, 2008 12:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ho hum. Another day, another futile attempt to distract people with bread and circuses (or, actually with just circuses to distract them from their lack of bread). In a less turbulent year this would probably work for McCain/Palin, but not this year. If they want to waste their time on tactics that have already been proven ineffective, it is no skin off my nose.
October 7, 2008 10:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm actually finding myself kind of bored now.
October 7, 2008 10:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
I know, me too.
She's cloying - you can only go so far before you're hopelessly bored cause that's all there is.
And she's done as well as she has, IMO, because McLame is so very very boring.
October 7, 2008 10:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Gosh, I think that you can afford the luxury of boredom because you live in Wisconsin, a land where the sane outnumber the crazies. Here in Missouri, our sane population is fairly well equally matched by the crazies, so what should be a blow out is still a close race. The fact that we are finally pulling ahead is making these last few weeks an exhilarating experience. I feel a growing contempt for the flat-footedness of our opposition, but I cannot say that there is any boredom to be had down this way. I can only hope that someday this state will be to the point that 1) I can share your boredom and 2) we can send our own Feingold to the senate in place of that slimeball Kit Bond.
October 7, 2008 10:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's not so much boredom like it's the 4th quarter and we're up by 45 and I'm just waiting for the clock to run out. It's more like I'm just bored with McCain's theatrics and talking about some of the same shit over and over.
For example, in the last thread I asked SFC a question about Ayers and he gave me a totally reasonable response. And I wrote up like 4 or 5 different replies but I didn't send any of them because I really just don't care about Ayers anymore.
I love Obama and I love fighting for him and helping him win Wisconsin and the fact that we're this close excites the living hell out of me. I'm just bored with the Republicans, I guess is what I meant.
October 7, 2008 11:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm also hopped up on cold meds right now and can't really get my thoughts straight.
My fiance finally gave me her cold.
October 7, 2008 11:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
I got one when Michelle was here a couple weeks back. Did your girlfriend get it then too?
October 7, 2008 11:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
She's been sick for about a week. She's finally better and I woke up this morning with that sick-feeling in the back of my throat and a stuffy nose.
She's always really careful not to give me any of her jerms and I always joke (half serious) that she's always sick and her weak germs have no effect on me. Well, serves me right.
October 7, 2008 11:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Probably the recent stress. That will lower your immune response. Well, maybe you just need to give yourself a break. And I hope she makes you or gets you some chicken soup. It really does help.
October 7, 2008 11:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
The great thing is, it's stress about the Red Sox not about Obama.
The entire 2008 season took a back seat to Obama but in the past few weeks all my worries about him have vanished and now I can get back to stressing about baseball. haha.
October 7, 2008 11:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
hahaha, "jerms."
October 7, 2008 11:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
"The great thing is, it's stress about the Red Sox not about Obama."
Do you know whats funny about that? I'm a huge Lakers fan, probably the biggest Kobe Bryant apologist known to man. I don't smoke cigarettes, but I find myself buying packs whenever the lakers are in the playoffs - an experience that should be an enjoyable one as a fan is completely agonizing. Even the games that they win are less of a satisfying experience, but more of a big sigh of relief, as if the firing squad that you were on the business end of just happened to miss you with every bullet. You would have thought that my dreams came true last year, my Lakers in the NBA Finals. But you know what? I didn't give a shit, based on the fact that I was following Barack Obama so passionately. Go figure.
October 7, 2008 11:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
haha! Well said. I really kind of hate it. These close games are going to be the death of me.
Last night was great but I couldn't get to sleep until like an hour after the game ended.
October 7, 2008 11:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Pity that. I hope you feel well soon.
October 7, 2008 11:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
Moi aussi.
October 7, 2008 11:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree - we've seen it all now and there's barely 3 weeks left and now I just want it over with. I just want President Obama to be a reality and go forward.
October 7, 2008 11:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Because at a certain point, what do you do for an encore?
October 7, 2008 10:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
The only thing I can figure about their sending Sarah out to preach to the choir in very red areas is they are hoping to increase that turnout, but it's still not enough.
I guess they can't turn her loose to talk to independents and disaffected fiscal conservatives cause she's far too likely to embarrass McLame some more.
October 7, 2008 10:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
As I've said before, I think she's operating on her own account with the 2012 nomination in mind- she doesn't give a rat's ass about McAncient.
October 7, 2008 10:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
You can think that and she can think that but it's not happening. That's way beyond far-fetched.
She's going to end up the answer to a Trivial Pursuit Bar Version question.
October 7, 2008 11:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Not likely. I guarantee you that Mitt Romney got asked, but chose not to go down with the sinking ship. Gov. Palin was the one they found who was foolish enough to say yes.
October 7, 2008 11:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
She needs something to do. They need to distract the base from the coming avalanche that will sweep them all off the mountain. And likely the repubs want to gather in the money while it's there for the taking. (before they leave her to her fate)
October 7, 2008 10:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
That definitely has something to do with it.
Fleecing the gullible - she should know about that - that's the bread and butter of the religious right.
October 7, 2008 11:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
LOL. You nailed it!
October 7, 2008 11:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
It will be interesting to see how much poll numbers go up among the base, but also how independents and moderate Republicans react to this latest erratic path by the McCain campaign.
The danger is that it reinforces the impression he left two weeks ago that he is unreliable in a crisis, and looking ahead, we have nothing but crises.
I know several people who would feel comfortable in a Palin rally, screaming their fear and anger at "elites" and giving full throat to their feelings that they're values are under threat. I had one woman from a rural area who works here explain it this way:
"We feel that we've played by the rules, have tried to raise our kids with standards to do the same, and it seems like others get ahead of us who don't do the same. It's not fair."
I actually sympathize with those who have this complaint, as I think it's more understandable than the pure-out racial undertones that Palin elicits from her mob. And Sen. Web of Virginia has written a book about how poor whites in Applachia actually have more in common with blacks than they know, and ought to make common cause with them.
But the old wedge that is being driven between the white and black, whether middle-class or poor, is an old tune. It was a tactic used 100 years ago in the South by the planter class to keep the poor from realizing that they could rise up if they could work together.
But today, I don't think this old segregationist tactic is going to do much more than rev up a smaller and smaller subset of whites who have latched onto a home-grown version of class victimhood. These are the same people who feel Christians are being persecuted by the so-called 'elites', too.
The fact that they're not really Christians, and are "Christianists" or plain ol' cultists masquerading as reasonable folks of faith, seems to be a lesson they haven't learned yet.
October 7, 2008 11:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well in political terms, it isn't that old and it's called theSouthern Strategy and it's breaking down. If it wasn't Obama wouldn't be ahead in Va and No Carolina.
This was my dearest hope and it's happening.
October 7, 2008 11:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Are you kidding? McCain's rage will be simmering ON CAMERA tonight and he may look at Obama once or twice just to get the press off his back about lack of eye contact.
But damn, I hope Obama instigates him. Focus on the issues and what he's going to do, but at least once try to get McCain to grit his yellow teeth on camera. That's all I want to see!
Show the old man who really owns the town halls!
October 7, 2008 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
If Obama can work in a subtle jab on McCain's height, then he might actually take a swing at him.
October 7, 2008 10:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe starting off with, "I was reading Rolling Stone the other day..."
October 7, 2008 10:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
I guess, "Do you need a milk crate, Senator?" is not exactly subtle.
October 7, 2008 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think you might be right. McCain, and I mean this, HATES Obama. It's clear in the way he fails to look at him, and was evidenced when he could barely bring himself to shake Obama's hand at the bailout vote.
If I'm Obama, I make every effort to talk trash about McCain to the audience, to be as passive-aggressive as possible and wait for Johnny to blow his lid.
October 7, 2008 11:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Don't forget that shitty letter McCain sent him when Obama first came to the senate.
October 7, 2008 11:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
Something like: "You know, John here is trying to make himself feel tall. Trying to pretend he can recover the high road, when he's clearly occupying the low road."
Subtle references. Which will go straight to the appropriate brain centers and flash RED.
October 7, 2008 11:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
The choreography of those two, as McCain tries to avoid eye contact, and (my guess) Obama trying to get gaze lock, will be interesting to watch.
October 7, 2008 10:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
The jab might be something that *we* out here in the hinterlands don't even recognize. Ie: something from their past in Senate...which would be even better because the press wouldn't be able to say the Obama baited him.
October 7, 2008 11:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
I kinda hope you guys are joking. Obama is clearly winning with independents because he seems calm, steady, and smart. He doesn't seem petty, erratic, or hateful. I see no advantage for him even challenging McCain tonight, at least not directly. Maybe one take off on the "you were wrong about" refrain from the first debate, but then lay off.
The beauty is that McCain doesn't need to be worked into a lather by Obama. He's already pissed. And if he doesn't blow his stack tonight, then Obama can stoke him a bit more in the final debate, which is not a town hall format.
In the town hall format, Obama has to show that he can relate to people, at least a little. He needs to not seem effete. That's his challenge tonight. It reminds me of the end of the primaries when Obama basically starting running against McCain, knowing that he had the race. He needs to basically act as if he doesn't need to stoop to McCain's level because it's just not necessary at this point. (I'm not saying he should campaign as if there's no contest; I'm merely talking about performance in tonight's debate.)
October 7, 2008 12:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, I was just thinking Obama trying to make normal human eye contact with McCain as he walks back to his chair and McCain is getting off of his.
October 7, 2008 12:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Brokaw or McCain -- who will be the first to tell Barack, "sit down, boy."?
October 7, 2008 10:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Anger is nothing more than weakness in an aggressive form - calmness is a show of strength.
Take a wild guess as to what candidate falls into what category above.
October 7, 2008 10:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Do you remember that scene from Schindler's List? The one where the camp commander was taking pot shots - target practice - at inmates? And how (was it Schindler who said it) he was told that true strength was to know you had it and to refrain from using it.
October 7, 2008 11:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
As long as Obama stays empathetic and on-message, he should be fine tonight.
My guess is that he will nearly ignore McCain and only address him to call him out of touch. As with Clinton, Obama only needs to run out the clock and prevent any mistakes.
October 7, 2008 10:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
McCain's not as short as he looks on tv - I met him at a book signing in Chicago (Borders on State St.) in early 2006. I'm 6'3 and based on my height, he had to be about 5'9 or 5'10.
October 7, 2008 10:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Not 5'10" No way. My husband is 5'10" and I know how tall that is. IF McLame is 5'8" I'll eat a pair of my own fuckme pumps.
He's about 5'6"
October 7, 2008 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
how come that the MILF is credible again.
stop yammering about her.
we all like to funch her but we got world to save just think about Biden and all of your mojo will be depleted.
Question to Tena, what is the permissible level of blatant sexism on this blog if the recipient name is Sarah.
October 7, 2008 10:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
You're asking the wrong people.
Ask McLame what the acceptable level of sexism is in this campaign because he and Sarah Palin are running the most sexist campaign I've ever seen.
October 7, 2008 11:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Face it - McCain can't do very much to help himself anymore. I expect him to try to goad Obama into losing his temper (fat chance, of course). Pretty much whatever McCain tries he's only going to make himself look smaller. His only hope is that Obama says something disastrous.
October 7, 2008 11:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
You're probably right. But that will look so bad to the viewer. Plus, what happens in a situation like that, when someone is goading another and there is no desired effect, the goader (what a word!) becomes increasingly enraged as they feel increasingly ineffectual.
It will boomerang.
October 7, 2008 11:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Absolutely. But what alternative does McCain have? To try to look calmer and more even-tempered than No-Shock Barack? He can't.
McCain might even respond to Obama's calling him "John" by calling Obama "Barry" like the wingnuts have been doing lately. Obama would just laugh it off. But I think McCain is going to really go after him one way or another.
October 7, 2008 11:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
I hope he calls him that in the same breath as flinging Ayers. Then Barack could come back with, "Barry... that brings me back to when I was 8 years olds..."
I love Obama's cool demeanor. It must really, really rile mcShame up. That Obama is winning without having to dirty himself. mcShame has few social skills. Just fighter skills. And feinting when he's not throwing a punch.
October 7, 2008 11:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
boomerang upon the goadee.
October 7, 2008 11:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Goader. Goadee is Obama. Goatee is Todd Palin.
October 7, 2008 11:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
My bad.
October 7, 2008 11:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
I didn't want to be the one who called it .... we all make mistakes.
October 7, 2008 11:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think that Obama can characterize McCain's Medicare cuts in such a way that the Arizona Senator's stack will blow.
McCain can't say anything, anything to Sen. Obama that Obama hasn't built a thick skin and world-class discipline against in 40+ years of being a man of color in the United States.
October 7, 2008 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
ooh, had forgotten all about yesterday's announcement, haven't yet read their plan - and I'm willing to bet Obama knows more about the McCrazy plan than McCrazy
October 7, 2008 11:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm really getting pissed off. All her "Terrist" quotes are dominating the headlines, and not a GD peep from the BO camp about her secessionist ties.
What in the devil is going on? When is someone from the Dem camp going to speak up? Where are The Clintons to decry Palin's stances? WTF?
October 7, 2008 11:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Just let things simmer. That's been hugely successful for the Obama campaign. Let them simmer and stew. It has to somehow connect to mcShame or bush, though, for them to bother. She's annoying gnat at this point.
October 7, 2008 11:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
The more her attacks are in the headlines, the more the independents run to Obama. His numbers are going up since she put on the heels and took the gloves off (which meant she walking with gloves but no shoes, but whatever).
October 7, 2008 11:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
I have an awful feeling in my stomach over what is happening. Not because i am worried Barack will lose, but because being an "other", it is incredibly scary for to see the kind of vitriolic xenophobia folks will sink to in order to win an election.
It is like Hillary's "White Working Class Voters" crap on steroids. I hope in my heart of hearts that this is just the death knell of a dying beast. Because anyone who has ever heard their mom called a "spick" or a "nigger" or "wetback" or a "guinea" is cringing with all they have right now.
I hope the polls stand steady for the next week or so because the only thing that will make this stop is for McCain to believe that it won't work.
October 7, 2008 11:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Amen. It also makes the prospect of McCain-Palin winning that much more terrifying. It was bad enough when their policies were going to further put our country in a hole, but now they are triumphing this view of the nation and of the people. My husband is convinced that this will doom them with the non-white vote. I hope he's correct. I also wonder if this is going to turn off even more white Southerners. People forget how much many of those areas have been wanting to rid themselves of this kind of racial hatred; many (though certainly not all or maybe even most) are tired of being considered backward and hateful. I don't think this will be enough to, say, cause McCain to lose Mississippi, but it really does make me wonder--and make me deeply fear--who this appeals to.
Why can't we just be a better country than this?
October 7, 2008 1:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Biltud,
I flippin' agree with you! Unfortunately, the mainstream media is not interested in the Alaska Secessionist thing - MSNBC is the only cable network that's mentioned it in the last month or so.
Networks are still afraid of Republicans and sexism, which is ridiculous seeing how much airtime Wright got in the primaries.
October 7, 2008 11:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not sure why people think McCain is the town hall master. Obama does plenty of town halls. I've seen Obama do at least a dozen town halls and he always comes across as thoughtful and knowledgeable as always. The guys sharp.
People were nervous about the previous debate saying McCain is a much better debater, Obama stutters too much, etc.
Well, guess what. That's not what happened.
Obama and his campaign have been ran exceptionally for almost two years now. McCain's campaign has been on the brink of bankruptcy and trailing in polls. Now, McCain, knowing he's on the wrong side of most issues that matter to middle America, is coming across as out of touch and grumpy.
I'm pretty confident Obama won't let us down. He's made all the right moves so far and I'm sure he'll make the right moves tonight. This guy is a professional at all times.
I'm looking forward to tonight.
October 7, 2008 11:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Acamus above says: "Part of my hope is in the crowd. Many of them are not going to be quiet if an inane and irrelevant question is chosen."
Sorry, Acamus, but the fix is already in. From Huff Post: "Tuesday night's debate will be held in town hall format, with undecided voters in the audience asking questions. However, moderator Tom Brokaw will select the queries, submitted in writing, before the debate. Audience members will not be allowed to change their questions, and neither the questioner nor Brokaw can ask follow-up questions."
Suck much?
October 7, 2008 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
But it doesn't mean if Brokaw chooses a "flagpin" question, the audience can't let out a collective "WTF?!" All of them are submitting questions, and if I asked a serious issue-oriented question and it got passed over something meaningless and irrelevant to our crises, I'd let it be known.
October 7, 2008 11:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yup.
October 7, 2008 11:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
The audience will be thoroughly prepped about being on their "best behavior." No applause, demonstrations, outbursts, etc. Plus, they're independents, which means unsure what to think about much of anything, therefore somewhat timid, therefore easily herded by the moderator. No doubt in my mind that Brokaw is going to pull a whopper of a Stephanopolous on us. He's totally in the tank for McCain.
But I hope you're right!
October 7, 2008 11:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
What's the over/under on how many times McCain brings up his fucking town hall proposal?
October 7, 2008 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
He'll definitely say something like "I wish we had more chances to speak with you directly" at some point.
October 7, 2008 11:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
At some point? Try prefacing every answer with it.
October 7, 2008 11:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Then comes the video. Shot of mcShame saying that. Shot of mcShame not looking at Barack. Unwilling to shake his hand.
October 7, 2008 11:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama: Hold the lead, go to the running game, make enough first-downs to run out the clock.
McCain: Try to force a turnover, stop the clock, work the refs, try to get the game canceled on account of a terrorist threat.
October 7, 2008 11:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
McCain's next move will try to put Obama and Ayers closer together with more and more insinuation that Ayers' past was much more recent than the 70's. Fox News already said two nights ago that Ayers' extremist actions took place in the 80's and 90's.
It's a flat out lie, but saying that destroys Obama's aides saying he was only 8 years old and instead puts him in his 20's and 30's - and many small minded morons will believe it!
October 7, 2008 11:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes but quit worrying about small minded idiots.
God almighty - could we here on the left quit it with this shit of worrying about 25-30% of the electorate, please?
I've heard this now for over 8 years. It wasn't totally small minded idiots who elected Bush the first time - it was just Americans and at the time it wasn't quite so idiotic - Bush lied all through that campaign and no one knew any different about him except those of us who knew him and were telling everyone for years - don't do it.
In '04, there were huge intervening factors - a relatively fresh war and a still fresh fear of terrorism.
Obama is way up = small minded idiots don't mean anything any more. Bush gave them a platform but it's gone and I would love to quit hearing about the small majority of small minded idiotic Americans. It's like we're obsessed with them and I'm bored shitless with them.
October 7, 2008 11:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, and by the way, we can all thank Sean Hannity for the whole Ayers revival - he had on Steve Schmitt a week or so ago and Hannity pushed him to bring back Ayers. Schmitt even said he didn't think it would do much and Hannity pushed him on it.
Blame McCain? Nahhhh - blame Hannity!
October 7, 2008 11:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think anybody cares about it now. Hannity also pushed Snuffleupagus to ask Obama that question during the primary debate he moderated.
October 7, 2008 12:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
McAngry is "comfortable" in Townhall format because all of the his previous 'townhalls' have been with pre screened, handpicked audiences - who happen to ask real mavericky questions -
tonight . . .not so much
October 7, 2008 11:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Can't wait.
October 7, 2008 11:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
Lynn Sweet writes, regarding the Town Hall format that the candidates agreed to, "The questions will be culled from a group of 100 to 150 uncommitted likely voters in the audience and another one-third to come via the Internet. Gallup has the job of making sure the questioners reflect the demographic makeup of the nation."
"An audience member will not be allowed to switch questions. Under the deal, the moderator may not ask followups or make comments. The person who asks the question will not be allowed a follow-up either, and his or her microphone will be turned off after the question is read. A camera shot will only be shown of the person asking -- not reacting."
"While there will be director's chairs (with backs and foot rests), McCain and Obama will be allowed to stand -- but they can't roam past their 'designated area' to be marked on the stage. McCain and Obama are not supposed to ask each other direct questions."
No wonder McCain wanted to do 10 of these things!
October 7, 2008 11:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
They hammered out 31 pages of rules for this debate. They've managed to hamstring everyone.
October 7, 2008 11:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
That works in favor of the candidate who has pulled well ahead and just needs to play good defense. So as much as it sucks from the standpoint of that quaint concept "democracy", it doesn't worry me as far as Obama is concerned.
October 7, 2008 11:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
O I'm not worried - are you kidding? McLame could turn in the world's greatest debate performance - and he won't - but he could and it still wouldn't change the outcome of this election.
This election is right on the horizon - choices have hardened.
October 7, 2008 11:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
And of course, with a consistent >50% Sen. Obama lead in the polls right now, Sen. McCain not only has to win undecideds, he now has to get some of those folks whose votes have "hardened" to switch.
October 7, 2008 11:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
What I enjoy about both of them on the stage is McCain can't just flat out lie to America without being challenged. I think a large % of America thinks he's being dishonest in his campaigning so challenging him has become that much easier for Obama fortunately.
October 7, 2008 11:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Given the debate rules, mike, he probably can. But it won't stick. Except to him.
October 7, 2008 11:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
At this point I wouldn't be surprised to see McShame come trotting out in his Naval aviator's uniform and crisply salute the moderator and audience with that maniacal grin on his face. The man is that far gone.
October 7, 2008 11:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
He should be holding a couple of ball bearings, too.
October 7, 2008 11:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
But marbles will spill to the floor through empty pockets.
October 7, 2008 11:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Poll: McCain's Challenge At Debate Tonight Is Formidable
Therefore, by definition, he will "knock it out of the park." How many times have we seen this movie? It's the same plot and it always has the same ending.
October 7, 2008 11:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Excuse me?
What the fuck movie are you stuck in? You suggest Sarah Palin knocked it out of the park. She didn't.
October 7, 2008 11:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Do I think so? Of course not. But the media did. I watched the post-debate palaver. She's been officially rehabilitated from her Katie Couric disaster, after which she was politically dead, stinking, and buried. True, she didn't get a bump in the polls, and they even indicate that she lost. However, she's now able to incite murder in public and earn herself more or less constant looping coverage. The debate performance -- however much you and I hated it and despise her -- is what made that possible.
October 7, 2008 11:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Not only did they not get a bump in the polls, the sank down lower. That's not hitting it out of the ballpark.
October 7, 2008 11:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
To use the baseball metaphor, they were down to last out, down by 7 or 8 runs, and she squibbled out a base hit. So they get another chance with the next batter McCain.
October 7, 2008 11:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
What park are you referring to, Titanic Yards?
October 7, 2008 11:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
You guys are totally missing the point of what I'm saying. "Knock it out of the park" is in scare quotes. See 'em? The "plot" I'm referring to is the expectations game: low expectations (or high stakes, tight-rope walks, formidable challenges, whatever you want to call them) followed by post-debate declarations that the "challenged" candidate was "not the same Sarah Palin we saw in the Couric interviews" or, as I fear we'll hear tonite, "McCain managed to refocus the debate on Obama" or "This is a real game changer." Why do I say that? Because it's the movie the friggin the loves to re-play, even when it belies the truth. Their itching for it. And Brokaw is going to try to give it to them.
P.S. Palin did a terrible job during her debate. It was an embarrassment and the media would have howled at it if it had been committed by any other candidate. But the media pumped it into a creditable performance and that gave Palin a new lease on life.
October 7, 2008 12:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
that should be: the friggin media love to reply
October 7, 2008 12:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain won't be alone tonight. He will be joined on stage by Karl Rove, Roger Stone and the ghost of Lee Atwater. Uberkook Stone's admonition “Admit nothing, deny everything, launch counterattack” will be in play, along with these words: Maverick. POW. Reformer.
October 7, 2008 11:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm sure Joe Biden is feeding Obama lines that will get under McCain's skin. I'm crossing my fingers for a complete mental breakdown by McCain and turn into a fist fight...sorry but as horrible as it would be..could you imagine. Obama is so tall he could probably just hold McCain back by his forehead and McCain would be swinging at air. It would be a hoot.
October 7, 2008 11:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Let's all pray for an eruption. Not only would it be the final nail in McLame's coffin, but it would be enormously entertaining.
October 7, 2008 11:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Bringing up Keating is already one of those poke points.
What is interesting about Keating, is that McCain helped him rip off thousands of people 20 years ago. No McCain will profess that is a long time ago and he is a different person, however what Ayers did 40 years ago is still relevant to the man Ayers is today.
October 7, 2008 11:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
It will be interesting to see if McCain can conceal the palpable hate he appears to have for Barack Obama while still being as aggressive as he needs to be.
October 7, 2008 11:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
They were likely draining him of hate all weekend. But he seems to manufacture it faster than they can drain it. I think if they drained every drop of moisture from his body, the dessicated remains would be pure, unadulterated hate.
October 7, 2008 11:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's my big hope and that's what I'm watching the debate for.
October 7, 2008 11:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
We need to bring up McLame's financial terrorist associations - Charles Keating, Rick Davis/Freddie Mac/Sallie Mae, "Fundamentals are strong" and "I believe in more deregulation." People are worried about losing their homes and jobs. McLame too risk y
October 7, 2008 11:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Now would be a good time for Obama, in this middle debate, to adopt a bit of "no more mister nice guy" attitude and push some of McCain's hot buttons (i.e. Keating 5, not a maverick, doesn't understand economics, not supporting the troops, bomb Iran, more wars, picking Palin). Even if he pushed a bit to hard he still has the chance to pull back in the final debate. Like others have expressed I would love to see Johnny lose his temper and spit venom for all the world to see.
October 7, 2008 11:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
We need to bring up McLame's financial terrorist associations - Charles Keating, Rick Davis/Freddie Mac/Sallie Mae, "Fundamentals are strong" and "I believe in more deregulation." People are worried about losing their homes and jobs. McLame too risk y
October 7, 2008 11:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Have you all ever seen this site HERE. It's got some pretty cool pictures and stuff for you Obamamaniacs out there...cheers
October 7, 2008 11:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hi guys and gals! Does anyone know if this debate will be broadcast live on the internet? I have been poking around the NBC and CNN websites and I haven't seen anything.
I'm abroad in Europe right now and CNN really made it convenient for me to wake up at 3am and watch the debates LIVE!
Any help?
October 7, 2008 11:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm sure you can go to the cspan web site. They may allow Europeans to view live streams.
www.cspan.org
October 7, 2008 11:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
I actually don't think McCain will do that well. His usual townhalls are full of Republicans who cheer on his angry rants.
As we saw with the VP debate, a quiet non-partisan audience is not going to start the angry chants of "kill him" like the GOP crowds.
So McCain will drop his usual jokes and oneliners, and be met with silence.
Also, McCain "did well" at townhalls, but compared to whom? Obama's not a great debater, but he certainly looks good in comparison to angry sullen McCain.
October 7, 2008 12:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
How do townhall debates work? Do both candidates answer each question or are questions candidate specific?
If it's the latter McCain could be fed Foreign Policy questions or softball economic questions, and Obama could be fed questions that require technical or nuanced responses to get him tied up in the answer.
October 7, 2008 12:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think it would be tougher to go on the attack with the townhall format. I think McCain is backed into a corner and will have to attempt some mudslinging but Obama can easily deflect it by having the audience right there with him. I think the mudslinging would work better in the last debate but by then it may be too late for Mac.
I miss Ron Paul: http://tinyurl.com/66o79q
October 7, 2008 12:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain is screwed here:
* Appear angry and he loses. No one likes angry. Not that this is a strategy. It's more like McCain's uncontrollable rage.
* Appear nice, and he looks like a two-faced coward. He's been nasty all weekend, and then plays nice when O is in the room?
October 7, 2008 2:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's the problem, Greg. You said,
You're suggesting that, in response to McCain spinning Obama's "associations", he will remind voters about the economic crisis. No. Not enough. Obama needs to specifically, accurately, forcefully remind viewers of McCain/Palin associations, that are far more substantive than what the GOP has dredged up on Obama. What about Palin's husband and the Alaska Independence Party? What about Palin's witch-doctor friend? What about McCain's long-time ADULT association with the right-wing, racist, anti-semitic U.S. Council for World Freedom?
Tit for tat, y'all.
October 7, 2008 2:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
I really hope tonight is where we just see Obama knockout McCain for once and for all. If McCain is going to go on one of his temper-tantrums, as he's been doing for weeks, then Obama should just continue playing it cool. Just stay smart, stick to the issues, and keep looking like a true leader. McCain will come off as looking like a little crying child.
October 7, 2008 2:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
The McCain campaign wants to cut Medicare by a trillion dollars or so. From the WSJ:
"Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Sen. McCain's senior policy adviser, said Sunday that the campaign has always planned to fund the tax credits (for his health care plan), in part, with savings from Medicare and Medicaid. Those government health-care programs serve seniors, poor families and the disabled."
I'm surprised the Obama campaign is not hitting this attack on Medicare harder, especially in Florida and Pennsylvania, and maybe even Arizona. It ought to be scaring the crap out of the elderly, one of McCain's last solid core supporter groups. I hope Obama brings this up hard tonight.
October 7, 2008 2:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
My hunch,,,,, McCain comes on like little goodie twoshoes, or his lame attempt at it.
October 7, 2008 3:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think this debate will be similar to the last one. McCain will come out with some well crafted lines and "zingers," hoping to turn himself into Ronald Reagan. It won't work. All that disdain and contempt will just come oozing out of him. And every time he says something nasty, or looks contemptuous, the favorability needles will turn down.
As for a display of righteous indignation. That's usually something the campaign staff and surrogates do. They seem to think having the candidate do it makes him seem unpresidential. Of course, in this case, he is unpresidential. If he makes a scene in which he takes offense at something Obama has said, like running ads that call him a liar, it will be a big mistake.
I haven't paid much attention to the cutting Medicare and Medicaid remark. I assumed it was just a mistake when it was released. But it's possible they think it shows how much a maverick he is by making an unpopular decision. The thing about it is that I think he does plan on cutting these programs. Republicans can't stand helping anyone in need. If you're in need it's your own damn fault, or a sign from God. After all, their own wealth is surely a sign from God that they are among the chosen and destined to go to heaven. Maybe he'll talk about that in the debate? We can only hope.
I think saying McCain is more comfortable in a town hall setting is a bit misleading. Remember, this is in comparison to what he's like reading from a teleprompter or standing behind a dais. The guy looks like a badly functioning robot. I think Barack is very comfortable with who he is. I expect him to pull a Bill Clinton and empathize with the audience. I think his connection will clearly show up in the insta-polls afterward. Whereas McCain will still come across as hostile, angry and out of touch.
October 7, 2008 7:05 PM | Reply | Permalink