The last presidential debate was indeed unlike the previous ones. It is as difficult to assess. I agree with the view that for the first 30 minutes McCain had the upper hand, which came as an all too big of a surprise to Obama. Yet my surprise at Obama’s weakness in the first 30 minutes was nothing to what happened with McCain for the rest of the debate. His face expressions of bizarre derision and difficult-to-restrain anger made this debate a gold mine for spin doctors analyzing the behavior of candidates in these elections. Yet that is the extent of its positive influence. Obama did not win because he was good, but because McCain played a risky game of ACORN/Bill Ayers accusations, which frankly, I don’t think interest many voters. Those who think he’s a terrorist will still think he is a terrorist, and these who don’t want to believe what the other side says won’t anyway. This debate was not Obama’s clear victory. As a viewer I could see his eloquence and intellect, but the fact that both candidates were sitting during the debate, oddly enough, I think made Obama even more professorial and accounted for a certain disadvantage. It is Obama “in motion” performance that serves him best.
A nice break from all the election conflict was undoubtedly the Al Smith Foundation’s charity in which both McCain and Obama had to come up with humorous speeches. They were both successful, McCain perhaps a little bit funnier than Obama, but both of them did a good job, well, as good as an adult man aspiring to the highest office on a long campaign drawing to its end can do. I recommend watching these, especially if you haven’t seen a lot of laughter from the candidates thus far. Yes, they can laugh pretty hard. Here is McCain’s speech and here is Obama’s.
There has been some speculation lately that Colin Powell, the “lion of the Republican establishment”, might announce his endorsement of Barack Obama, yes, the Democratic candidate. Apparently, we will know by this Sunday. The political ramifications of this can surely shake foundations of this election. Being a centrist and still pretty popular individual (if compared to other Bush government officials), yet also a representative of the military “elite” under three presidents, he might just be Obama’s Trojan Horse in getting the votes of the moderates. Nevertheless, it might also do the exact opposite, and alienate moderates from Obama who don’t know much of Powell’s negative opinion about the more conservative elements of his party. His possible support of McCain can also help the Republican ticket but surely not to such a degree as in the former case.
So what do you think, tell me in the poll below.
Tags: ACORN, Bill Ayers, Colin Powell, debate, McCain, Obama
October 20, 2008 at 5:02 pm |
I do agree on your ACORN/Ayers points, they are absolutely irrelevant to the campaign and to Obama’s would-be presidency. It’s just a minor controversy being over-discussed by desperate McCain campaign. I think McCain’s performance was remarkably better during the last debate – he seemed more assertive and did push Obama to defensive for quite long. I think though, that for a major change in the polls it was too late.
Now, there will be a huge field for the journalists and bloggers like us, because there is absolutely no point we can be sure of in terms of what will actually happen until and on the election day – so basically it’s everyone’s prediction that occur in reality.
For the record, on the poll, I voted for the third option, because in my view it is not sure, what impact Powell’s endorsement will actually have on Obama’s position – Powell is a part of Bush era, and an active republican [even republican presidential candidate in the past], and by the same token, he is one of the most formidable individuals in U.S. military circles, which McCain’s candidacy seems to appeal to.
October 26, 2008 at 2:09 pm |
Looking on Powell’s affair from Poland, I think that it may have some positive impact on Obama’s march for victory. The most important from a few reasons is the fact, that C.Powell was seriously considered as potential McCain’s running mate. Today all rational thinking people know, that he would be better choice than Palin, despite his membership in Bush team. We should remember, that Powell is symbol of days, when present president was rather popular. He is also one of the Republican’s stars and the most respected politicians. His endorsement can’t be ignored.
If I made some serious mistakes in this short comment, please, be forgiving;)