The Debates Will Be The Death Blow For McCain/Palin

[RedSpartan]

The momentum is clealy on Obama's side now (although McCain will of course try to milk the embassy bombing last night for all it's worth), and I think that the debates will be the death blow for McCain/Palin.

Obama's debate skills were sharpened during the primaries (thanks, Hillary!). He'll be ready. Of course, so will McCain. He's been around for a long, long year, and say what you want, he's not an idiot. McCain won't be smirking out lines like "Need some wood?" or "I hear there's rumors on the internets." He'll have some substance (or will sound like it), whatever you think of his positions. But Obama will have substance as well and will clearly - - so long as he has no major stumbles or gaffes - - come across better in terms of style and appearance. And that's how he will get a big win in the debates. While we, of course, know he is, he'll come off as so much more authoritative, articulate and prepared than McCain. The contrast will be especially sharp with McCain, stiff as a board, next to him, and I think that that will put Obama over the top in the minds of many undecideds (who, let's face it, may be the ones who are going to decide the election).

The VP debate will probably be more lopsided. Biden has the style and the substance, but he has to be tough without coming across as a bully, and he'll be ready for that - - just keep pounding McCain, Bush, McCain, Bush. Leave Palin be; she'll sink on her own. I really think Palin may get crushed here, but not necessarily by Biden. Rather, I think the mods will try and take her down. She'll of course be prepared to better answer any questions that Charlie Gibson already asked her, but the mods will know that and will be ready with questions that may blindside her. The media loves to build people up and tear them down, and I think they smell blood with Palin now. The debates are a place where they can destroy someone and not necessarily get criticized for it, since much of the focus and blame will be on the candidate him/herself (Bernard Shaw, anyone?). I think the chances of them getting her to stumble fatally are very good.

In short, the tide is turning back in Obama's favor, and I think that the debates will bring a bigger and bigger wave of support that McCain will not be able to overcome, and that Obama will ride into the White House.

[tridim]

1. I think these bailouts are the death blow for McCain..

But the debates will certainly be hell for both of them.

[Neecy]

2. I agree

And some of McCain's soft support, particularly with the moderate Republicans who are appalled by Palin - will take another look at Obama.

Bush was an idiot but he was amiable and inoffensive in his debate performances. McCain will come across as too old for the job, unhealthy, cranky, out of touch and dishonest. His economic policies will be exposed as identical to Bush - a disaster for him. All Obama has to do is basically stand there as a perfect contrast.

[meow2u3]

3. But the media will say McLame and Failin' won

just for putting a couple of sentences together.

[RedSpartan]

4. Possible, of course

but I'm not so sure. The media is pissed at McCain, and the shine is really coming off of Palin. Plus, I think the contrast between Obama and McCain will be so stark that it will be tough to say with a straight face that McCain won. That won't stop some from doing so, naturally (read: Fox), but I think overall the media will not be able to ignore the contrast, in terms of both style and subsance, between Obama and McCain.

[Median Democrat]

5. Not Really - McCain/Palin Can Lie Without Pause - Remember McCain's Reference to John Lewis?

John McCain cited him as a wise person that he would consult with at the Saddleback forum without hesitation. The problem, of course, is that John Lewis rarely speaks to John McCain, and they have typically disagreed. The problem is that the report of the lie does not come out until several days after the debate. So, I expect John McCain to toss bullshit immediately, and the pundits will, of course, eat that shit up as forceful and decisive even if McCain is just making shit up.

[old mark]

6. I think there will be a lot of media cheering for the Repubs,

but they are so stupid and inept that some of it must show through, even to US voters who are still undecided.

Who the hell could possibly be undecided at this point, I have no idea, but I probably would not enjoy talking to them.

mark

[ramapo]

7. Palin will be declared the winner if she doesn't melt

Biden needs to be very careful in his tone and demeanor. The MSM will be looking to jump on him for seeming to disrespect his opponent or trivialize her trivial experience.

She will no doubt use that authoritative, confident tone no matter what crap comes out of her mouth. If she doesn't crack, or say something totally moronic, there is a chance she'll be declared the winner.

Same is true, possibly to a lesser extent, of the McSame/Obama debates.

[okieinpain]

8. it will be more important for obama/biden to not make a major

mistake then it will be for them to blow mcnutts/palin away. they just need to stick to their campaign and not get caught flip/flopping on a subject.

I think this is what did hillary in during the dem debates.

[bushisanidiot]

9. Obama and Biden have been answering questions from the press which is a nice

warm up to the debates. Hiding Palin away from the press and away from questions that she doesn't have answers to on index cards is going to hurt Palin BIG TIME. They really should be pushing her out there to answer her own questions and trying to ensure voters that she has substance to go with the nice gams and lipstick. Instead, the McCain's campaign's failure to let her answer questions on her own merely emphasizes that they have no faith in her ability to give substansive answers to even mediocre questions.

[stubtoe]

10. I'm really looking forward to the debates.

Obama will have a better grasp of the issues than McCain and will be much more specific than McCain about how to deal with them. This will be an excellent venue for Obama's natural leadership skills to shine.