My predictions for the town hall

[JPJones]

1) Charlie Gibson will balance the questions better than expected. The questioners have been sequestered all day, so they will have time to write down multiple questions, have them screened, perhaps even re-written. Gibson knows that everyone will judge him based on the balance between pro-Kerry and pro-Bush questions.

2) I think Gallup probably did a fair job of picking undecideds. They called people multiple times over a couple months - i.e. they have been screening people since the summer.

3) Even if the questioners are stacked with Republicans, less than 1 in 5 on the panel will get to ask a question. Gibson will make it reasonably balanced (IMHO) because his rep is on the line. That assumes he has any shred of integrity. I don't know. I don't watch the Mouseketeer News Channel (ABC). Maybe, before the debate, John Stossel will have a special report on how 'The Lion King' increases your child's IQ.

4) Expect a lot of questions on domestic policy. Foreign policy is a bit too abstract for the undecided voter. The news 'reporters' can't ask intelligent questions about Iraq, how do you expect your average Joe to do any better?

5) The Bush 'undecideds' will probably ask questions about flip-flopping, Vietnam, IWR and the $87 billion. Good. It gives Kerry a chance to explain all of these to 60 million people.

6) Post-debate spin will be key. There's little we can do, but I think that flooding the Internet polls actually helps to keep the pundits from getting too out of hand. Until the idiots who run the website with poll learn to do it by IP address, they get what they deserve.

[JPJones]

1. Kick for the two pieces of inside info about the questioners nt

[jimshoes]

2. I don't hold out as much hope

of CG being balanced. I hope I'm wrong.