Sitting down to watch the dozens of primary debates was like waiting with the bartender at a neighborhood dive for a brawl that might happen, knowing that a few of the regulars were likely to come in with a beef, one could fly off the handle at any minute, the bartender was probably going to goad him into it, and that the drama of the night would be exciting and unexpected, and somebody could end up with a black eye. Knowing that 8 of the 9 or so guys (and gal) under the lights would definitely not be president put the focus on the human drama, the hook and block, the language and argument and personality on stage.
Last night was not a night for popcorn, or peanuts, and wasn't especially about entertainment. Gone were the "gotcha" questions and invitations for political gamesmanship. Instead, there were three serious, well-prepared men in dark suits and a mostly silent, invisible live audience. Facts and statistics, bills and budgets replaced retorts as ammunition. The message: this is a serious debate about a serious decision for a serious time.
In a campaign where both sides have railed against Washington, the language of the city was the currency of the night. Committees and subcommittees, tax rates and earmarks, amendments and continuing resolutions. Both candidates were impressive in their mastery of the facts (even those that they may have intentionally distorted), but one was left wondering if undecided voters felt either man fully connect to their problems and values and dreams.
Both men were armed against their Nixon moment with blush and foundation, which wasn't particularly flattering in HD. Barack Obama wore a flag pin; John McCain did not. Neither man was relaxed but both were presidential, largely self-assured and in control of their arguments.
Neither candidate got in a narrative-confirming dig about the other man's character. There was no "You're no Jack Kennedy" or "There you go again" moment.
Both candidates have been changed by the long campaign. Obama and McCain argued over earmarks last night, but not over whether they're bad and should be eliminated, just about how bad they are. Obama stopped requesting them in 2008. "Main Street" rolled off McCain's tongue like the populist he has become or is or is trying to appear to be.
The candidates don't like each other very much. The disdain from each was palpable. Barack Obama referred to McCain as "John" 25 times, implying familiarity, but his smiles under McCain's accusations were tight. McCain did not call Obama by his first name once, addressed Lehrer for most of the evening, and hardly acknowledged that he had a debate partner.
Each candidate clearly thought he was the smartest guy in the room. Obama tried to win by starting his sentences with conciliatory language, before inserting a correction. He spent much of the night agreeing with McCain- "Senator McCain and I agree for the most part on these issues," "Senator McCain and I, I think agree on the importance of energy," "John is right we have to make cuts"- but his best moments came when he attacked directly.
McCain condescended, implying that all the candidates' disagreements could be cleared up if Obama just had a little more knowledge of the issues. "Senator Obama doesn't understand the difference between a tactic and a strategy," he said. "Senator Obama calls for more troops, but what he doesn't understand, it's got to be a new strategy," "I don't think that Senator Obama understands that there was a failed state in Pakistan..."
As expected, the economy dominated the first 40 minutes of debate, and John McCain won here because Obama didn't shift the focus of debate from earmarks and taxes (McCain's turf) to health care, food prices and the cost of the Iraq war (his own.)
Otherwise, the night was a draw, with both candidates articulating their quite different approaches to governing and the issues. McCain's press didn't take a nosedive, as it could have after the confused week if he had not performed well. Obama more than met any questions about whether he could look presidential next to McCain, with foreign policy as the subject.
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