Debate
I actually watched the whole thing this time rather than just listening on the radio.
McCain did thematically drive the debate with his Joe Plumber anecdote. It doesn't matter if Obama was right about Joe, people were empathizing with this Joe guy and his noble struggle to shift from labor to management in the face of oppressive taxation. But as Peggy Noonan so aptly noted, narratives don't work well for Republicans most of the time. I think Bush's "I'm stupid but not a drooling imbecile so don't expect much" narrative is an exception. The Joe Plumber thing did give Obama one opportunity that he hit out of the park though, and that was the answer to McCain's question about how much the fine was for Joe Plumber not to provide health care for his employees. "Zero" was the answer with good explanation- small businesses are explicitly exempted. It was one of many moments where you just felt like Obama had a deeper understanding of the issue while McCain was trying to hold ground on his deflated talking point.
I was surprised that Obama didn't seem to throw legal originalists even the slightest bone, saying that he'd pick judges based on fairness, justice, and intellect. A lot of rabid conservatives are going to see that as proof that Obama wants activist judges, but they weren't going to vote for him anyway. Still, this was probably the single issue where Obama seemed least willing to compromise.
The Ayers attack, and the fact that McCain kept pushing, gave him the chance to talk about the calls for his assassination at McCain's rallies. McCain gets all teary-eyed b/c someone equates him with George Wallace, but then belittles the significance of the hatred they're whipping up? I think most people watching will take Obama's side on that one.
McCain said Obama should have run 4 years ago if he wanted to run against Bush. Obama didn't really try to prove that McCain was the successor to Bush; it's enough that he's a republican I guess. McCain's emphatic statement isn't enough to get the Bush albatross off his neck, even if it gets played in the highlight reels for a few days; in fact, it's one of those denials that reminds you why he's trying so hard to get you to believe him.
Overall, Obama was largely reactive but knowledgeable and unflappable. McCain was irritable and jumpy, but drove home his attacks more confidently than in the other debates and managed to find a theme that shifted the conversation a bit. I expect Obama's lead will shrink just a bit until Sarah Palin does something crazy again.
McCain did thematically drive the debate with his Joe Plumber anecdote. It doesn't matter if Obama was right about Joe, people were empathizing with this Joe guy and his noble struggle to shift from labor to management in the face of oppressive taxation. But as Peggy Noonan so aptly noted, narratives don't work well for Republicans most of the time. I think Bush's "I'm stupid but not a drooling imbecile so don't expect much" narrative is an exception. The Joe Plumber thing did give Obama one opportunity that he hit out of the park though, and that was the answer to McCain's question about how much the fine was for Joe Plumber not to provide health care for his employees. "Zero" was the answer with good explanation- small businesses are explicitly exempted. It was one of many moments where you just felt like Obama had a deeper understanding of the issue while McCain was trying to hold ground on his deflated talking point.
I was surprised that Obama didn't seem to throw legal originalists even the slightest bone, saying that he'd pick judges based on fairness, justice, and intellect. A lot of rabid conservatives are going to see that as proof that Obama wants activist judges, but they weren't going to vote for him anyway. Still, this was probably the single issue where Obama seemed least willing to compromise.
The Ayers attack, and the fact that McCain kept pushing, gave him the chance to talk about the calls for his assassination at McCain's rallies. McCain gets all teary-eyed b/c someone equates him with George Wallace, but then belittles the significance of the hatred they're whipping up? I think most people watching will take Obama's side on that one.
McCain said Obama should have run 4 years ago if he wanted to run against Bush. Obama didn't really try to prove that McCain was the successor to Bush; it's enough that he's a republican I guess. McCain's emphatic statement isn't enough to get the Bush albatross off his neck, even if it gets played in the highlight reels for a few days; in fact, it's one of those denials that reminds you why he's trying so hard to get you to believe him.
Overall, Obama was largely reactive but knowledgeable and unflappable. McCain was irritable and jumpy, but drove home his attacks more confidently than in the other debates and managed to find a theme that shifted the conversation a bit. I expect Obama's lead will shrink just a bit until Sarah Palin does something crazy again.