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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC Political Researcher



McCain vs. Obama: Debate prep

Posted: Monday, October 06, 2008 9:24 AM by Mark Murray

The Washington Post reports McCain is doing far more serious debate prep for Tuesday than he did for the first showdown. “In one of the most beautiful spots on the globe, Sen. John McCain spent much of Saturday holed up in a dark hotel conference room, engaged in intense debate preparation. At the end of it, the GOP nominee told his aides that was crazy, and so Sunday's first round of debate prep was held outside, near the creek by his house in the scenic Arizona desert.”

“Other than that last-minute audible, McCain appears to be engaged in especially serious preparations for Tuesday's debate, one of his last opportunities to change the trajectory of a race that may be slipping out of his control. He is certainly doing more formal preparation than he did before last month's debate in Mississippi.”

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It would certainly appear that McCain is not willing to do EVERYTHING it takes to win.  Even 30 days out from the election, he still refuses to work weekends and 'calls in' his talking points to Sarah Surrogate.  Quite telling,...
Wonder where the bar is set for McCain for his debate "performance"?
Don't forget, his first debate prep was interrupted by having to go back to Washington to take a leadership role in the bailout passage.
The grunpy old geezer had better do much better than the last debate which he lost.  Supposed to be his strongsuit, the townhall debate.  If he loses this one he's toast, well he's toast anyway.  I just love Chuck's new electoral map this week showing Obama up 264-174.

Go Obama/Biden 08/12!
one of his last opportunities to change the trajectory of a race that may be slipping out of his control.
*******************************************************

As long as Americans are concerned about the economy -- no Ayers or Wright distractions are going to work.  No matter how many times you place Obama's name next to the word 'terrorist', people won't be buying it.

http://thepajamapundit.com/
Prep all you want, McCain.  If all you're going to do is spew the same lies that you've been spewing on the campaign trail, then you've already lost.

Obama/Biden '08!

http://jawillie.blog.com
John McCain can prep all he wants to.  He could be the most prepared politician ever to go into a debate... but McCain is on the wrong side of EVERY issue, too close to Bush, and there is no way he can shake himself from that.  The only thing he can do is attack, and try to put Obama off message, but i believe its too late, even for that.  Americans want to hear what Obama has to say.  

Its time for Change We Can Believe In.

Obama '08
The lie about Ayers is no match for Sara Palin’s pastor’s sermon about
Alaska being a refuge in the last days, and witch hunting. Her husband was a member of an Alaskan group trying to succeed from America. This woman is far more scarier than Ayers. She refuses to let America know anything about her. And besides, when I go to fill my
gas tank up at $4.00 a gallon, Ayers is not standing at the pump,
but the Republican ghost is. They are the one’s we should fear.
Palin is anti-woman, bans books, no foreign policy credentials, and
a threat to our national security. Sara “Harry Potter” Palin is what can REALLY hurt Americans and for this we should be fearful. Palin should
be sued for slander.
Will he bring Notes like Palin did ?? Refuse to answer question and just recite GOP talking points too ?
No rhetoric, no hype can become so shrill as to drown out the fact that Bush and McCain have crashed the American economy.
Sara Palin, like a dangerous dog let off of her leash,
will surely sink John McCain's boat.
Well, sure… in a hotel conference room there aren't any clouds to yell at.

Tuesday night we'll see the "real" John McCain, entirely focused on trying to smear a fellow American. Far more "last gasp" than "country first."
I have heard on all the Sunday morning shows about how McCain and crew ready to "swiftboat" Obama during the next couple of weeks with Ayers, Wright and others. What I have not seen, on MSNBC nor CNN's websites is the ad about Keating 5 and McCain that the Obama camp is putting together to place on the web, why?


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