"Mr. Obama's advisers have been studying in particular...

[Clarkie1]

Mr. McCain’s temperament and mood and looking for potential flash points of anger.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/21/us/politics/21debate.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&ref=politics

[cliffordu]

1. How many debates have each of these guys had in the last two years???

[trueblue2007]

2. Look for Ol' Man McCain to yank off his shoe and bang it on the table. Hope he turns purple!!!!

Mr. Obama plans to begin debate camp on Tuesday with a tight circle of advisers at a site in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, his aides say, with a prominent Democratic lawyer, Greg Craig, playing the part of Mr. McCain in mock debates.

The Obama campaign has been studying Mr. McCain’s debate performances from the Republican primary as well as in his 2000 race for president. Each debate has been rated and scored, with briefing points and highlights sent to Mr. Obama.

Mr. Obama’s advisers have been studying in particular Mr. McCain’s temperament and mood and looking for potential flash points of anger.

[Frank Booth]

3. If this is true, I don't know why the Obama campaign would advertise it.

Isn't the whole point to catch McCain by surprise?

[MirrorAshes]

5. reverse psychology maybe?

I have a feeling that if McCain goes into it with the mindset that he'll have to keep his cool it'll actually make him that much more likely to lose it. I dunno. We'll see I guess.

[regnaD kciN]

6. It's called a "head fake"...

...and basketball players are very familiar with it. ;-) Basically, it will get McCain to waste prep time and energy preparing for how to respond to being provoked to anger, and get his mind off the contents of the debate itself.

[Connie_Corleone]

8. And also Obama's adviser mentioning Obama's "weakness".

Giving long, detailed answers. I'm sure that will not be a problem by the time the debate happens.

[MirrorAshes]

9. haha, indeed. I think you nailed it.

put some fear in 'em now and let it linger for a week. They'll trip all over themselves trying to strategize their way out of being provoked and wind up losing all focus on what really matters.

and then when he bumbles all on his own, we pounce. me likey!

[MirrorAshes]

4. I guess I could be wrong, but I don't see how this could possibly go well for McCain

He's not going to get under Obama's skin. He's just not. It'll be quite the opposite I'm sure.

I really can't imagine what they are thinking by agreeing to these debate rules. I'm allllllll for it though.

[The Traveler]

7. Barack is in his head

and letting him know just gets Barack in deeper.

B knows what he's doing.

[Ichingcarpenter]

10. The thrilli in Mississippi......

This is pre game smack to mess up McLame's game.


I think it will equal Frazier's and Ali's fight in Manila

A lot of psy went on before the that fight.


Actually I don't think McCain can last the rounds, Obama
comes out slow at first and then overwhelms his opponent in logic and facts

McCain will shoot his wad in the first two rounds, he doesn't have the endurance,
in mind or stature.

Expect McCain to come out in the first two rounds blazing in cheap shots
and undercutting blows to throw Obama off balance.

Obama goes the distance and builds up momentum in the debate with killing blows in the later rounds, McCain will end the debate with tired clichés and nonsensical innuendoes without addressing the questions with cogent answers and even staggering with the complexities of
his intellectual insanities.

[retread]

11. I saw McCain debate Romney and was impressed by McCain's ability to

repeat the same lies verbatim over and over even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

[K Gardner]

12. "Obama's camp is diminishing expectations for him." WTF? ROFL ! This is psychological

WARFARE.. they're going to let McCain and Obama "mix it up" for five minutes.

Oh, I need to stock up on popcorn !

:popcorn:

[depakid]

13. Come on now, please.

That sounds like an ESPN comment-

[GoesTo11]

14. McCain will use his "reading to a toddler voice" to avoid showing anger