Post-Debate Analysis Thread

[TennNC]

Overall, both candidates performed admirably, and I thought it was rather enjoyable. Little silliness and politicking. They basically stuck to the issues.

I liked the format. No audience participation. Let the candidates speak, let them engage with each other, and let the moderator set the conversation and then butt out. Best format of a debate I've seen in awhile.

I watched on CNN. The party line tracker was interesting for its trends. More on that in a sec.

On the economy, Obama started off very strong. He was fortunate to get the first answer, and he nailed it. He clearly was prepared. I thought McCain started a bit slow but recovered and did pretty well.

First half: slight edge Obama.

On foreign policy, it was clear that McCain has more experience. At one point he mentioned Alexander the Great and then said something like, "I remember..." I thought he was going to say, "I remember Alexander the Great." McCain did very well in this area, and he should have and needed to. On many points I agreed with him.

But Obama held his own. What he lacked in experience he made up for in knowledge. He understands the issues that affect foreign policy, and I think he clearly brought every point back to what was in America's interests. Obama clearly went to school and learned it fast. On the scoreboard, McCain might have had a slight edge in the second half, but in the big scheme, I think Obama showed people he has the smarts and the poise to handle foreign policy.

The interesting angle to the party line trends graph was that the independents tended to track the party of the candidate speaking at any time, until it came to Iraq. This polarized the parties, and for the most part, Independents were tracking with Dems here. McCain got some points on the surge, but for the final question about 9-11, he brought it back to Iraq. Independents saw this as a significant negative, and McCain clearly lost favor toward the end. Obama made a smart move to stick with a safer answer like, "we need to restore America's reputation, and that will give us more leverage to garner support," but McCain brought the focus back to Iraq. Bad move.

Overall, probably a draw. Given where the campaigns are right now, I think it was an ever so slight win for Obama.

I look forward to the next one.

 

[Roll Tide Rev]

I saw it as a win for McCain hands down.

 

[allvol123]

TennNC needed his own debate thread. Elitist.

 

[TennNC]

TennNC needed his own debate thread. Elitist.

why muck up the other one? Clean one to focus on analysis, not running commentary during the debate.

what were your thoughts?

what do you think of my analysis?

 

[TennNC]

I saw it as a win for McCain hands down.

thanks for that. scale of 1-10, what would you give each candidate?

 

[emainvol]

I'm with you TennNC, I thought going into this, anything but flat out domination from McCain would be a victory for Obama.

 

[allvol123]

why muck up the other one? Clean one to focus on analysis, not running commentary during the debate.

what were your thoughts?

what do you think of my analysis?

Just picking with you.

Your analysis seemed fair for the most part. McCain did not explain himself on economic policy as well as I would have liked him to. Obama really looks poor on foreign policy to me.

Talk to you later. Going to bed, go to go to the office in the morning. Trying to keep this economy going.

 

[emainvol]

Obama gets about a 7, although he started out around a 9.

McCain I'll give a 6, although he started off as about 4

 

[TennNC]

I'd go a bit higher for each. I don't think McCain was as poor on the economy nor Obama as poor on foreign policy as allvol123 said. Each brought their game up a bit - not a lot, but a bit - from public perception IMO.

I'd give Obama an 8, McCain a 7.5. Above average but not outstanding for either.

 

[TennNC]

Just picking with you.

Your analysis seemed fair for the most part. McCain did not explain himself on economic policy as well as I would have liked him to. Obama really looks poor on foreign policy to me.

Talk to you later. Going to bed, go to go to the office in the morning. Trying to keep this economy going.

Sleep tight.

We'll get back at it next week.

 

[IPorange]

Obama gets about a 7, although he started out around a 9.

McCain I'll give a 6, although he started off as about 4

You clearly came in an Obama fan. This was basically a draw, but to give Obama a 9 coming in and McCain a 4 says more about you than his debating. In fact, according to you, McCain gained 2 spots and Obama lost 2. Seems if you suspend your bias, your own analysis hints at a draw.

 

[notverycrucial]

As I wrote in the other thread, the initial polls suggest most think Obama won the debate tonight.

40% of uncommitted voters who watched the debate tonight thought Barack Obama was the winner. 22% thought John McCain won. 38% saw it as a draw.

68% of these voters think Obama would make the right decision about the economy. 41% think McCain would.

49% of these voters think Obama would make the right decisions about Iraq. 55% think

Two focus groups, one by GOP pollster Frank Luntz and another by Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg, both declare Obama the winner. Independents in the MediaCurves focus group "gave the debate to Obama 61-39. They also think he won every individual segment. Republicans gave the debate to McCain 90-10, Democrats to Obama 93-7."

 

[emainvol]

You clearly came in an Obama fan. This was basically a draw, but to give Obama a 9 coming in and McCain a 4 says more about you than his debating. In fact, according to you, McCain gained 2 spots and Obama lost 2. Seems if you suspend your bias, your own analysis hints at a draw.

I was actually grading them on both of their starts to the debate versus their overall performance. I didn't think that either performed exceptionally well, although I felt that Obama had more "soundbyte" type moments than McCain.

 

[MontereyVol]

I think it was pretty much a draw. However, I think it will hurt McCain for those who actually watched the debate. The never looking him the eye thing looked bad.

 

[TennNC]

I think it was pretty much a draw. However, I think it will hurt McCain for those who actually watched the debate. The never looking him the eye thing looked bad.

sounds fair to me.

 

[TennNC]

As I wrote in the other thread, the initial polls suggest most think Obama won the debate tonight.

my read of the party line graph on CNN during the debates matches up with these tallies.

 

[T-TownVol]

I think it was pretty much a draw. However, I think it will hurt McCain for those who actually watched the debate. The never looking him the eye thing looked bad.

I personally do not think that was half as bad as Obama calling McCain by his first name. Shows a lack of respect and maturity on his part. I realize it was probably done to try to get under McCain's skin, but a lack of class in my opinion.

 

[kptvol]

I personally do not think that was half as bad as Obama calling McCain by his first name. Shows a lack of respect and maturity on his part. I realize it was probably done to try to get under McCain's skin, but a lack of class in my opinion.

I thought the same thing. Obama also looked a bit condescending on the cutaway shots when McCain was talking. Calling McCain Tom didn't help, either. Both candidates need to try to interrupt each other a bit less. Still, tough to say that either candidate won the debate by more than a narrow margin.

 

[lawgator1]

My only thoughts are that 1) no one really made a mistake or scored a knockout punch, because 2) both are intelligent and knowledgeable politicians, 3) either one of whom would be an infinitely better president than the current one.

Whether its McCain or Obama that ends up winning, the country will soon be able to turn the page from the current buffoonery in the WH and I think we are all grateful for that. I'd support either of these guys upon taking office.

 

[volinbham]

Overall a good performance by both.

Both had answers that portrayed their true views on the economy - these came from the excellent question about how will this crisis impact your plans:

Obama showed he cannot cut his government as the solution view. When asked what he'd cut, he rattled off a series of new programs he would institute. Is there any doubt how he views government?

McCain was equally revealing in his answer - cut spending, cut spending, cut spending. More along the lines of what I'd like to hear but too shallow.

On to foreign policy. Obama did well enough but I thought McCain was stronger and showed a clear difference between been there, done that and here's what I'd do. Obviously, I lean towards McCain's world view but I still thought Obama came across as someone who has these grand views but will learn quickly about the reality of foreign relations and foreign policy. Perhaps naive is too strong a word but it fits to a degree.

Overall, Obama did better at the beginning and McCain at the end. Both were well prepared. It was a good debate overall. I give a slight edge to McCain but that's probably a tie given the topic.

 

[volinbham]

Why does Obama say "Tolly-bahn"? It makes them sound like characters from Willy Wonka. Saying "Pah-kee-stahn" doesn't help either.

 

[lawgator1]

Why does Obama say "Tolly-bahn"? It makes them sound like characters from Willy Wonka. Saying "Pah-kee-stahn" doesn't help either.

Just a hunch, but seeing as that is how they are actually supposed to be pronounced, he's chosen to do that.
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[TIGER DEN]

Obama said I agree with John , probably 10 timeseace2:

 

[lawgator1]

Overall a good performance by both.

Both had answers that portrayed their true views on the economy - these came from the excellent question about how will this crisis impact your plans:

Obama showed he cannot cut his government as the solution view. When asked what he'd cut, he rattled off a series of new programs he would institute. Is there any doubt how he views government?

McCain was equally revealing in his answer - cut spending, cut spending, cut spending. More along the lines of what I'd like to hear but too shallow.

On to foreign policy. Obama did well enough but I thought McCain was stronger and showed a clear difference between been there, done that and here's what I'd do. Obviously, I lean towards McCain's world view but I still thought Obama came across as someone who has these grand views but will learn quickly about the reality of foreign relations and foreign policy. Perhaps naive is too strong a word but it fits to a degree.

Overall, Obama did better at the beginning and McCain at the end. Both were well prepared. It was a good debate overall. I give a slight edge to McCain but that's probably a tie given the topic.

There is a lot to be said for your analysis. In a sense, this worked out well for both of them. Obama had to be worried that McCain would totally upstage him on foreign policy and, when it sort of faded into a tie for the most part, McCain had to worry that his biggest advantage was lost in the noise.

In the end, the distraction of the economic issues drowned it out a little
and that helped both.

I thought it was a good debate and proved to me that both would be effective in their own ways. Nothing wrong with that.
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[lawgator1]

Obama said I agree with John , probably 10 timeseace2:

You have to give him credit for being intellectually honest enough to do that.
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