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Ok, another presidential debate comes and goes. If you were a McCain fan then you probably liked the show and the same for Obama. I do not remember a debate going back to the first, Nixon vs. JFK, that did not leave the voter feeling they got enough. We don’t know anymore than we did before the debate, so it was a contest of how “good” your horse looked. For me, being a supporter of Obama I thought McCain came off as an angry old man that gave us the same old talking points. Obama did not give us anything new but he looked composed and was not slow in responding to McCain. I thought McCain’s reference to Kissinger and the 60’s fell flat and condescending in his attempt to establish his seniority. To people in their 20’s Obama may seem old and for voters in their teens, he is old, and for us old folks, McCain is TOO old. As usual, the whole thing is about the undecided---whoever that can be---and I would think, Obama looking cool and calm and in control as opposed to McCain looking stiff and angry might have traction with the undecided. Obama came out looking calm and with a “glad to be here” expression whereas McCain looked stiff and uncomfortable. When Obama shook hands, he put is left hand on McCain’s forearm, which gave genuineness to the greeting. He answered Lehrer’s questions much more concisely and did not have to make every answer and attack on McCain, whereas McCain had to attack Obama, while not speaking directly to the question. His refusal to look at Obama after Lehrer asked him to, came off rude and less than what one would expect of a presidential candidate. Neither candidate could answer, “Where will the money come from” nor could they say what programs would not get funded. I did think Obama came closer to the question when he indicated that there would be shortfalls. All McCain could say is the same old thing about “cutting spending” and maybe a freeze. A freeze on what? Social Security, Defense that is the biggest part of the budget. We always hear, “cutting spending” and yet the Bush Administration has run the debt beyond imagination.
In truth, the strongest in the room was Jim Lehrer who conducted the finest moderating I have ever seen. I am a regular “News Hour” viewer, and I have no idea who Lehrer supports and that is exactly how I like to get the news. I would imagine that the next debate will be closely watched and we may see the angry side of McCain come out. That, if not already, could be the dealmaker.
