I did not catch all of the Debate between Senators McCain and Obama but enough to have some reaction. I thought McCain did alright in a format that did not favor him (he can be quite good in the "Town Meeting" format but stiff behind a podium). Sen. Obama used Henry Kissenger's name -- several times -- while misinterpreting what the foreign policy sage had to say. This could come back to clobber him (but with so much of the Media on his side, who knows?). For the most part I thought Sen. Obama did OK.
What surprised me was the atmospherics of post debate commentary. I figured most of the folks in the broadcast news divisions are Obamaphiles and expected them to be at least moderately pleased. But there was no Joy in Mudville and since I had not seen the mighty orator strike out I wondered why. Then it occurred to me that they expected him to put McCain away -- what with the "subprime mortgage mess" -- and that he had failed to do so. They wanted to see that long ball go out of the park and drive home a few scores to likely put the game out of reach for the Republicans. Instead, Obama may have got on base with a bunt while the lead runner was picked off. McCain was still very much in the game, and may have improved his position a bit.
At Panamas Media Jennifer Rubin asksWho Won the Debate?
She goes on to quote several of McCain's answers about the threat from the Islamic Republic. I also thought it was probably the high point of the debate for McCain.
For Obama the high point was tying the invasion of Iraq to McCain. It is, after all, an unpopular war but seems largely behind us now. And it is better to win wars than to lose them, a point Sen. Obama seems to disagree with.
What surprised me was the atmospherics of post debate commentary. I figured most of the folks in the broadcast news divisions are Obamaphiles and expected them to be at least moderately pleased. But there was no Joy in Mudville and since I had not seen the mighty orator strike out I wondered why. Then it occurred to me that they expected him to put McCain away -- what with the "subprime mortgage mess" -- and that he had failed to do so. They wanted to see that long ball go out of the park and drive home a few scores to likely put the game out of reach for the Republicans. Instead, Obama may have got on base with a bunt while the lead runner was picked off. McCain was still very much in the game, and may have improved his position a bit.
At Panamas Media Jennifer Rubin asksWho Won the Debate?
And second, the McCain camp will be under the gun to make the most of their material. Some possibilities are already evident. Will the embarrassing stumble over the name on Obama’s bracelet be key? Will the Henry Kissinger misquote come back to haunt him?
I suspect it may be something far more serious. John McCain’s shining moments came in large part when discussing Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
She goes on to quote several of McCain's answers about the threat from the Islamic Republic. I also thought it was probably the high point of the debate for McCain.
For Obama the high point was tying the invasion of Iraq to McCain. It is, after all, an unpopular war but seems largely behind us now. And it is better to win wars than to lose them, a point Sen. Obama seems to disagree with.
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