Being There

The debate is over and the writing is on the wall for McCain’s increasingly negative and erratic campaign for President. The first two debates were concievably a draw; Obama’s campaign likes to spin this hard, but it’s true that the debate format is not his strongest suit. He can get wordy and his answers are too long sometimes. McCain also held the advantage on the big issue of foreign policy and his supposed “maverick”ness and relateability to veterans, the common man, etc.

There is no question that Obama won the third and final debate. Check any insta-poll on CBS, CNN, ABC (the scientific ones that don’t allow multiple voting). Not only did Obama meet expectations of those already voting for him, he swung people his way from that middle group of undecideds and independents.

Let’s do some direct subjective comparisons:

Obama was calm, collected, and polite. McCain was snarky, agitated, and rude.

Obama carefully and clearly outlined the specifics of his policies when asked. Look at his answer to the question of whether we can reduce reliance on foreign oil within four years. McCain spoke generally with phrases like “I know how to bring down defense spending” and “we can do this with the job creation of energy independence.”

Obama laid the traps. And McCain walked into them. The negative ads and comments from the McCain campaign about Obama’s links to William Ayers and ACORN have been coming fast and furious without much direct hitting back from the Obama campaign. Wondering why? Tonight was Obama’s best venue for repudiating those ridiculous claims (that every internetter has already debunked multiple times through their own research). McCain took the bait and said it to Obama’s face. And he got destroyed on the topic when Obama easily pointed out that he never “palled around with terrorists” and gave a simple explanation of what the ACORN controversy is all about.

Every attack McCain made was swiftly parried by Obama, making McCain look like a desparate fool attempting to throw anything against his opponent to see what would stick. The fact that anyone could expect Obama to be anything but supremely  prepared on every possible issue is almost unbelievable. In comparison, McCain seemed to struggle with rebutting accusations against his policies and was very repetitive when Obama did shoot down his attacks.

I think that some people may mistake McCain’s desperation tonight for passion or conviction. But to me it was very clear. This campaign is on its last legs and Obama just weakened them almost to the point of breaking. In two weaks there won’t be much left beyond a defeated, aging Senator and his inexperienced VP pick gathering up the remnants.

P.S. Just to be clear, I STRONGLY disagree that Sarah Palin is a role model for American women. ;)