While the debate was a snoozer, this was a clear win for Obama for me. CNN once again is acting as though it's a draw and of course Pat Buchanan thinks McCain "won on points" but really, Barack was not only once again speaking directly to the viewers AND the group in the room, repeatedly referring to them as "You," but he also answered the questions thoroughly, with fully formed thoughts, a beginning, middle and an end. McCain was all over the map, shifting focus and I think rarely connecting with the audience (saying we're your friends, Senator, doesn't make it so.) In a word, McCain was erratic.
The MSNBC focus group picked up on this, especially independents who liked Barack's specifics on the economy and were turned off by McCain's attacks. Even the Republican hack analysts in the CNN newsroom are panning McCain's performance, saying he was "condescending" and backwards looking.
Candy Crowley on CNN made a good point as well: McCain's attempts at humor all fell flat; McCain was acting as though the room was packed with his supporters, which, of course, is precisely the case with his usual townhall meetings.
But Andrew Sullivan really nailed it:
This was, I think, a mauling: a devastating and possibly electorally fatal debate for McCain. Even on Russia, he sounded a little out of it. I've watched a lot of debates and participated in many. I love debate and was trained as a boy in the British system to be a debater. I debated dozens of times at Oxofrd. All I can say is that, simply on terms of substance, clarity, empathy, style and authority, this has not just been an Obama victory. It has been a wipe-out.It has been about as big a wipe-out as I can remember in a presidential debate. It reminds me of the 1992 Clinton-Perot-Bush debate. I don't really see how the McCain campaign survives this.
Update [2008-10-7 23:7:30 by Todd Beeton]:CNN's snap poll: Obama won 54%-30%. Also, Obama's favorables went up a net of 8%, McCain's were UNCHANGED. Wow.
Update [2008-10-7 23:13:28 by Todd Beeton]:From Jonathan in the earlier thread: More actual results... CBS polling of undecided voters gave Obama the win by a 39 percent to 27 percent margin, with another 35 percent rating the debate a tie. Another wasted opportunity for the McCain campaign.
GQR focus group of undecideds split 42 percent for Obama at the end versus 24 percent for McCain.
Update [2008-10-7 23:17:54 by Todd Beeton]:I think Barack Obama clearly beat John McCain on substance but to address style points for a second, both in this debate as well as the first one Obama is just killing McCain by simply outclassing him. The media seems more willing to call McCain out for being a dick tonight.
Update [2008-10-7 23:27:13 by Todd Beeton]:Holy crap. Look at these CBS snap poll numbers (h/t kos):
Will Obama will make the right decisions on the economy?Before debate: 54
After debate: 68Will McCain will make the right decisions on the economy?
Before debate: 41
After debate: 49
Devastating.
Update [2008-10-7 23:29:27 by Todd Beeton]:The best Karl Rove can say about McCain's performance:
"He began to establish theme lines that will serve him very well through the rest of this campaign."
He's starting to establish theme lines in October???
Update [2008-10-7 23:35:54 by Todd Beeton]:More from CNN:
Who was more intelligent in the debate?Obama: 57
McCain: 25Who expressed his points more clearly?
Obama: 60
McCain: 30Who seemed to be the stronger leader?
Obama 54
McCain 43Who was more likeable?
Obama 65
McCain 28
Wow.
Update [2008-10-7 23:49:9 by Todd Beeton]:And one more item from the CBS snap poll. The empathy gap is wide indeed:
Before the debate, 59 percent thought Obama understands voters’ needs and problems; that rose to 80 percent after the debate. For McCain, 33 percent felt he understands voters’ needs before the debate, and 44 percent thought so afterwards.
Update [2008-10-7 23:57:31 by Todd Beeton]:Gloria Borger on CNN: "Suddenly John McCain's experience seems beside the point." Usually I can't stand her commentary but that's a smart observation.
Update [2008-10-8 0:3:34 by Todd Beeton]:Chris Matthews: "Well, the results are in. The viewers have spoken. Obama wins the debate. That makes it three zip for the Democrats." Cut to a huge crowd of students standing in the rain yelling "Obama! Obama!" waving signs. Hmm, no one in the rain there for McCain. What a shock.
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