Longer format helps

Posted: Friday, September 26, 2008 9:59 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC/NJ's Athena Jones
The longer format appears to be working for Obama, who tends to be long-winded. He hasn't been forced to give a quick answer yet.

He's on message, hitting his talking points on the contrasts with John McCain on taxes, his plans for healthcare and energy independence. He seemed to cover more ground than McCain whose main points were about cutting government spending.

For several minutes, Obama was the only one to interrupt his opponent, which seemed to be an attempt to show his willingness to fight back.

Other observations:

*Both mentioned Tom Coburn

*Took 34 minutes for Iraq to be mentioned (unless I missed it before). Obama pointed to ending the war as a cost savings

*The strongest exchanges were on Iraq. Obama seeking to point out areas where McCain was wrong and McCain accusing him of not admitting the United States was succeeding in Iraq and talked about him voting to cut off funding for troops

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Comments

Very Compelling! I am so very stricken by something I have observed....and that is that John McCain cannot even look at Barak Obama! I think I know why too! He is holding onto his temper!!! What kind of leader would McCain be if he cannot look his "opponent" in the eye?

Cecily Hardy Manson, NC (Sent Friday, September 26, 2008 10:12 PM)

spain hehe

Gary Schear, bozeman montana (Sent Friday, September 26, 2008 10:13 PM)

I am very nervous about John McCain. WHY? He has YET to look Senator Obama in the eye, and YET to even glance his way! WHAT GIVES WITH THIS ANTIC??

He, McCain, has yet to even look at us, the American People, as he is debating! This is very unsettling to me!! I would have given him the benefit of the doubt, but he has lost me with this! LOOK US IN THE EYE SENATOR MCCAIN!!

CeeCee (Sent Friday, September 26, 2008 10:13 PM)

Barack's not long-winded, just thorough, honest and honorable -- the very characteristics missing in the opposition as proven by the Bush administrations and now having been replicated by McCain.

James Green, Amarillo, TX (Sent Saturday, September 27, 2008 12:03 AM)

He doesn't look at him because he doesn't respect him. That is McCain's major problem. If someone, either an opponent or a rival head of state, doesn't agree with him, he shows them no respect. That is what George Bush did and look where we are now in the world commmunity.

Joe (Sent Saturday, September 27, 2008 12:08 AM)

I like how you have dropped all pretenses of neutrality in the title of this entry: "Longer format helps" and then continue the thought with how it benefits Obama.

Stay classy, MSNBC!

Jon, Ohio (Sent Saturday, September 27, 2008 12:12 AM)

McCain didn't have to attack back. He was level-headed. Obama was flustered.

John Atlanta, GA (Sent Saturday, September 27, 2008 12:28 AM)

A liar can't look you in the eye.

Maggie, Missoula, MT (Sent Saturday, September 27, 2008 1:48 AM)

Wonder why Barack acknowledged certain good points made by McCain during the debate? Cornel West calls this "critical affirmation" - an approach to dialogue on urgent issues that aims to keep the conversation going rather than score on every point. This is the kind of presidential leadership we need: forthright,
appreciative of others' good ideas as well as one's own deeply held positions, and mindful of the need for
bipartisan efforts to address critical issues.

Linda Levine, New York, NY (Sent Saturday, September 27, 2008 11:38 AM)

What tends to cocnern me is that McCain..was trying to hold on to his temper that he is known for having. There where times when he was being challanged by Obama, and acted like he was going to lose his it. Not to mention, he never looked at Obama as if he felt like he did not deserve to stand next to him. McCain, just kept going over his history, and not giving any real answers to the question. I don't care how long he has been in the Senate and got tired of hearing it. He is trying to sale us a "McCain Product" instead of trying to sale us on the issues. There was no "Stright Talk" from him last night. I am on the fence between both of them, but I have just leaned more towards Obama, with McCain VP selections and his actions last night he scares me!!!

Robert, Auburn Hills MI (Sent Saturday, September 27, 2008 11:43 AM)

McCain is at a loss when it comes to stating his mind on what he wants as a new way for the US to remain the country it once was prior to Bush. Why? Because he is stuck in the past. How many times did he cover his experience or elude to being a POW? that was all he said really though out the debate. No wonder so much of the polling shows that people think McCain lost the debate. He has nothing to offer but the same republican message. Hire me so I can keep doing the things that got us here in the first place when Obama is saying lets go for the future and here's how I think we can get there.

Mr. W Mobile AL (Sent Saturday, September 27, 2008 12:00 PM)

Speaking of CONDESCENDING!!! Macain did not once address Obama,instead, he wore a look of scorn on his face throughout the whole debate. What was that all about? Obama was a class act.

Lorraine, Mount Vernon,NY (Sent Saturday, September 27, 2008 12:49 PM)

i liked the longer format, i liked the fact that the senators were able to fully express themselves and gives us a better feel for each. i agree, that whenever you face an opponent, "MAN UP" and look him square, whether you win or lose. We want a candidate who has a win or lose attitude but facing it squarely, Point for Obama

ardiebean, Frederick, Maryland (Sent Saturday, September 27, 2008 3:11 PM)

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