Debate Analysis: Obama connected better than McCain
By Peter S. Canellos, Boston Globe Washington Bureau Chief
WASHINGTON -- John McCain had two goals in last night's Town Hall-style debate: To rekindle the straight-talk rapport with average voters that was at the core of his primary campaign, and to raise some fresh doubts about his rival Barack Obama, who has been leading in recent polls.
But from his first remark, "Senator Obama, it's good to be with you at a Town Hall meeting" -- possibly a simple greeting but more likely a veiled reference to Obama's refusal to accept his proposal for 10 Town Hall debates -- McCain's two goals seemed to pull against each other.
Sometimes sarcastic and sometimes sincere, McCain seemed off-balance in a way that undermined his much-repeated claim of being "a cool hand at the tiller."
Obama, who did not particularly excel at Town Hall-style debates during the primaries -- sometimes seeming lordly or professorial -- was better than McCain last night at connecting with audience members on their own terms.
When a voter asked what was in the financial bailout package for him, McCain launched into an attack on the abuses in the mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, claiming that they occurred "with the encouragement of Senator Obama and his cronies and friends in Washington."
Obama looked the questioner in the eye and said, "Well, Oliver, first let me tell you what's in the rescue package for you. Right now, the credit markets are frozen up and what that means, as a practical matter, is small businesses and some large businesses can't get loans. If they can't get a loan, that means they can't make payroll. If they can't make payroll, they have to shut their doors and lay people off. And if you imagine just one company trying to deal with that, now imagine a million companies all across the country."
Obama's answer had the slightly syrupy quality that made Bill Clinton extremely effective in Town Hall settings -- and sometimes set him up for ridicule afterwards. But such answers are the standard by which Town Hall debates are judged. Unlike encounters at which both nominees stand behind lecterns, Town Hall debates test a candidate's ability to frame issues in ways that are meaningful to average people.
McCain, during the primaries, did that and much more -- winning plaudits for saying things that most politicians would never say. Sometimes, he openly disagreed with questioners. Sometimes he admitted to weaknesses in himself. Often he challenged conventional assumptions about issues -- for example in his politically brave opposition to subsidies for the alternative fuel ethanol.
Little of that McCain was visible last night.
"We in New Hampshire saw him do a lot of these meetings," said Dartmouth College political scientist Linda Fowler. "What was memorable about them was his physical energy, his willingness to say unexpected things.... None of that McCain was in evidence last night."
A likely explanation was that, with only four weeks until election day, McCain felt pressure to raise doubts about Obama. That required pointing an accusatory finger.
But lines like "Senator Obama would have brought our troops home in defeat," seemed unnecessarily mean when delivered in a friendly setting amid a group of average voters, especially with a confident Obama standing by.
McCain was far better in the rare moments when he bantered with questioners, such as when he told a Naval veteran that everything he learned about leadership came from a chief petty officer.
As in last week's debate, Obama matched McCain point-for-point on foreign policy, and defended himself against McCain's attacks; he fired back with accusations of his own at times, but maintained a more positive tone overall.
There were only a few minor gaffes. Obama inexplicably chose to criticize his running mate Joe Biden's state of Delaware for having loose rules on corporations. McCain may have given voters reasons to think of his own running mate when he declared there's no time for "on-the-job training" in foreign policy.
And when asked by moderator Tom Brokaw if health care were a privilege, right, or responsibility, McCain chose responsibility. Obama said it was a right.
As at many other points last night, Obama seemed more in touch with his audience.
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John Mccain is still the best Presidential candidate this country can afford to lead us the next four years.Obama look fresh and sound sharp but that doesn't mean he is ready to face a major catastrophe or a crisis.There is too much at stake here and Obama is not the right leader at this point maybe in few more years but as for now it is John Mccain we need.
B I G S U R P R I S E: The liberal media says Obama did better in this debate and won it. I could have told you that the media would say this last week. You in the media are doing a great disservice to the citizens of our country by not reporting the actual news, you only report the positive news about Obama and the negative news about Obama. Do we have a controlled media? You bet we do, just like Russia, not difference. Shame on you; millions of Americans no longer respect the media in America and no longer read or listen to you. I know some who would not even listen to the debates because of the propogranda from the people anchoring it. I find that PBS is better than more (I dropped cable and can no longer watch FOX). I detest Williams, Coric and also Charles; they cannot even hide their bias. Tom B. did an excellent job tonight; too bad Obama would not listen to him when Obama kept talking, talking, talking and interrupting. We also found out tonight that Obama probably would not militarily defend Israel if that country were attacked. He did not answer the question. McCann answered saying yes, as president he would defend Israel and not go to the U.N. as Russia and China had veto power.
Obama is a closet communist; his mentor was communist Frank Marshall Davis; Obama writes about Frank in his book. HELLO Socialist States of America. There goes free speech......
Actually by pointing out the den of iniquity that Delaware has become for banks, Obama connected with those who , as Nader , are in distress over Biden's collusion with the Banking industry in regards to his state's lax regulatory system which serves as a "safe banking haven" suggesting that he recognizes and does not tolerate it notwithstanding his choice of Biden for VP – sites as counterpunch.org have criticized Biden severely and thereby the Obama – Biden ticket over the issue – Obama herein muted that criticism
Also, Obama effectively decimated McShame's pathetic "across borders" insurance buying scheme by pointing out that it will likely only benefit lax insurance states as "Arizona" while decimating protections for consumers and actually limiting the breadth of choices for consumers as insurance companies reduce their regulatory standards to the lowest legal possibility tolerated in the country. Thus, Obama's Delaware explication and criticism effectively exposed McShame as promoting a Bush-typical anti regulation anti-consumer protection gimmick under the guise of consumer assistance - that is, it showed how McShame's interest actually was in the protection of big business at the expense of consumers and showed that he was above his VP running mates most glaring flaw. .
Barrack Obama is a vote getter performer but he is not a do it better leaderJohn Mccain is.
Well, I guess somebody's got to start this one moving. I think the last line in this article says it all "As at many other points last night, Obama seemed more in touch with his audience". When he explained the health care issue, he actually seemed like he understood the problems of middle America and he laid out his proposal in comprehensive terms. And of course when he talked about watching his mother die of cancer at age 53 while arguing with insurance companies... he couldn't of connected any better. Many of us can relate to that story in one way or another. Conversely, McCain's net worth of $125 million insulates him from these problems... and I can never understand why a man so (supposedly) devoted to country actually takes his social security check of $1900.00/month even as he takes his senate pay and benefits.
Also JMHO, but McCain looked older than usual, and Obama looked more presidential (again). In fact, one analyst said it looked like Obama was the incumbent and McCain was the guy trying to get there. As the financial crisis deepened yesterday, McCain's (and all republicans) stock went down down down. I would not be surprised to see the Gallup National Poll show that Obama is at something like 50% and McCain will be dropping to 40% or maybe less.
I THINK THAT WE ALL SHOULD VOTE FOR OBAMA HE SEEMS TO BE A GREAT LEADER AND NOT LIKE MCCAIN HE IS JUST WORRIED ABOUT SCORING POINTS ADN OBAMA REALLY CARES ABOUT OUR COUNTRY!!!
As a man who shares the same racial make as Obama (much better looking I might add) I was voting for Mccain for several reasons. How can we as a nation have a president that can't or won't pretend to respect his rivials may it be a forgein nation etc.. I am voting for Obama now because of the clear child like frustrartion Mccain displayed last night. Mccain really showed his true color which is red for angry. Think about this should a president show his cards before the game is over? Yes I think Obama will be the next president may God be with U.S..
skmj,
What if, heaven forbid, McCain dies in office? Sarah Palin is ready to face a major catastrophe or a crisis?
You are right...too much is at stake.
Obama-Biden '08
i think mc cain will be a better off as president than obama cuz hes more experience than obama. our country is on war and we need someone whos been there,had experienced and understand it. Republicans doesn't have a good reputation cuz of the Bush administration. However there is one thing i agree w/ obama that is we shoudnt have gone on Iraq, We should have focus on afganistan first and getting Bin Ladin. Instead of getting distracted. Now the Taliban or Al-Quada are setting base in Pakistan or(probably may have been there already) we cant be all over the place at the same time!
The economic crisis that our country is facing right now is man made. sometimes i feel like we are our own worst enemy!
Clearly Obama is better than McCain because Obama has plans on our ecomony, he is going to raise minimum wage for everyone and all of the children is going to get health insurance. Well, you must be nuts if ure going to vote for McCain. heck, he was on my college's board of trustees. and what else? he is going to send even more troops to Iraq while Obama is going to bring them home for the first time in a long time. Imagine, you are forced to fight to the death in a place you dont know. and you're finally going home, knowing the country is in good hands.