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Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: bentway who wrote (420347)	9/27/2008 4:24:22 PM
From: Alighieri	Respond to of 1572946

Most incisive debate commentary? Look to David Gergen on CNN, Charles Krauthammer on Fox News Channel posted by halboedeker on Sep 27, 2008 12:03:27 AM Discuss This: Comments (3) \| TrackBack (0) \| Linking Blogs \| Add to del.icio.us \| Digg it The first presidential debate is over, and we have one winner for sure: PBS' Jim Lehrer, who asked succinct questions, pushed the candidates to talk to each other and got out of the way. Lehrer knew he was there to move the debate along. And the winner of the John McCain-Barack Obama debate? A tie, several analysts said. (I don't agree, but more about that later.) And what is the value of a tie? We have disagreement. Republican consultant Alex Castellanos on CNN: "John McCain could have lost this race tonight.... He could have gotten knocked out easily with a bad debate tonight. I'd say a tie is a good thing for the guy who was behind." David Gergen, also on CNN, disagreed: "I think John McCain needed a clear victory tonight. I think a tie was not in his interest. He is behind, and this is his best subject matter. ... I think he needed a clear victory, and that eluded him, even as strong as he was." On Fox News Channel, Charles Krauthammer said a tie helped Obama. But first, Krauthammer deftly contrasted their styles. "McCain is a guy who hits, he hammers, he jabs," he said. "Obama is smooth, he's very elegant, he was very nimble." Obama was never flustered or at a loss, Krauthammer added. "I think he comes out of this neutral, and thus ahead," Krauthammer said. "We're now going to have the debates on the economy, which will are going to be his strong area, and McCain will be on the defensive." Krauthammer said the debate was a draw that helped remove a potential Obama liability on foreign policy. "I'd be surprised if McCain gets a jump in the polls as a result of this," Krauthammer said. Still, it was a dramatic debate, filled with riveting exchanges. CNN's Jeffrey Toobin descibed it as a debate of defining phrases and no defining moment. Toobin cited McCain's "you don't understand," and wondered if viewers agreed with McCain or saw him as a condescending old man. Toobin said Obama's oft-repeated "John is right" was either stupid or a sign of bipartisanship. I think body language probably undermined McCain. Obama often looked at McCain and smiled with ease. On style, Obama had the edge. The camera rarely showed McCain looking at his opponent. Rather, McCain was dimissive of his opponent. He repeated himself, talked about his past and bragged about his credentials and travels. I don't think that's the way to connect with people worried about today. So Obama had the edge on substance, too. How did you see it? CNN's Gloria Borger said Obama attacked McCain on policy while McCain seemed condescending in lecturing Obama on foreign policy. MSNBC drew attention to McCain's stumbling over the Iranian president's last name. But also on MSNBC, Democrat analyst Harold Ford said McCain had a decent night and Obama needs to stress how he differs on issues. Jeff Greenfield of CBS said McCain turned "senatorial" in talking about the economy while Obama talked about working families. George Will of ABC was amazed that McCain said Obama is like George W. Bush in not being flexible enough. "A howler," Will said. In a test group on CBS, a man leaning toward Obama said the debate reminded him of the Kennedy-Nixon classic. Obama came across relaxed and McCain was a bit stressed, the man said. Will Obama-McCain be remembered as a milestone comparable to Kennedy-Nixon? I doubt it. But Jim Lehrer deserves our thanks for helping us make it through the night.