Debate III Results: Obama Wins!
Well last night was the third and final presidential debate between Obama and McCain and it definitely was the best. Scheiffer did a great job on the questions and getting them to answer. Right off I think that Obama won the debate. I thought that Obama came off as confident, presidential, calm, reasonable, and intelligent, whereas McCain came out negative, flustered, self righteous (the Lewis comments), and desperate. There were times that both candidates gave excellent answers, but I thought Obama gave far more excellent answers and replied to anything that McCain threw at him. I even liked after McCain went on his thing about providing money for autism research and Obama reminded him that his spending freeze would preclude that. I think that Obama also answered the Ayers point to the degree that McCain will have trouble using it anymore and also Obama was graceful not going after Palin's qualifications when he had the chance. He also gave the best explanation for being pro-choice I have ever heard.
It is funny last night that once again the pundits and I were not on the same page. They tended to think that at least until Lewis came up that McCain was winning. Neither I nor Adam, who I was talking with on Aim, agreed with that. As I said from above I thought that Obama was strong from the outset. This of course was not new, we both agreed that McCain won the first debate when the pundits disagreed and gave it to Obama. Although I tended to agree with the pundits on the second debate. McCain just looked creepy wondering around. It was like Gollum and you kept expecting him to mumble about 'My Precious." Pundits just tended to like McCain on the attack and there might be a little hope for a closer election. Thankfully the polls are with Adam and I on this debate.
Now we are left with nineteen days till the election. There has been a lot of talk about the 'Bradley Effect' which says that if Obama is not up by six or more points that he will lose because people lie to pollsters to not look racist. I was definitely a little worried about that, but honestly I think we are going to have perhaps an opposite effect. I think there will be more voters for Obama in more conservative, white areas then they are telling because people in that group may not be admitting they will vote for McCain. I suspect that Obama's win will be bigger then expected. I guess though we will have to wait and see. I am really excited about election night.
The only regret I have from last night is that I could not play the debate drinking game. I seriously thought about it, but being a work night, I stuck to my guns. That is alright though, I will celebrate Friday Obama's victory. That is what the weekends are for.