Strikingly different debate prep for McCain, Obama: Obama "camp," McCain "on the fly"

[DeepModem Mom]

CNN: September 23, 2008
Strikingly different debate prep approaches for McCain, Obama
From CNN Correspondent Dana Bash

(CNN) – There may be no greater illustration of John McCain and Barack Obama’s differing styles than the way they're preparing for Friday’s presidential debate. Barack Obama is reportedly going to Florida for "debate camp" — traditional preparation that includes a sparring partner playing the role of his Republican opponent.

McCain’s prep is more on the fly: He spent several hours Sunday at his campaign headquarters working with aides, and he spent several hours in a Pennsylvania hotel Monday afternoon doing the same. He will follow this "squeeze it in" prep schedule Tuesday as he campaigns in Ohio, and Wednesday around meetings with world leaders in New York. Not until Thursday afternoon and Friday in Mississippi are McCain aides planning to hunker down and devote all the candidate’s time to debate prep.

Another illustration of how McCain’s preparation for Friday’s faceoff has been somewhat untraditional: right now aides say they don't have anyone playing the role of Obama in mock debates. Right now advisers like Mark Salter and Charlie Black and others are throwing questions at McCain they think the moderator could ask, without an "Obama" figure in the mix — although aides say that scenario may change by week’s end.

(Three advisors insist that reports former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele is playing Obama in debate prep are untrue — Steele is uninvolved, they say. Also untrue: a report that McCain may hold a Mississippi town hall Friday to help him warm up, as he has often done on debate days.)

One senior advisor involved in this prep says they feel because foreign policy is the subject of the first debate, and they believe that's McCain’s strong suit, a lot of time is being spent working on what aides believe remains the Arizona senator’s big challenge — keeping his answers short.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/23/strikingly-different-debate-prep-approaches-for-mccain-obama/#more-19937

[Richardo]

1. Even Tiger Woods hits the range before and during a tournament

Michael Jordan practiced every day.

Even if foreign policy is McCain's strong suit (and it is - it's just a very WEAK strong suit), he should be prepping like there's no tomorrow.


This is great news for Obama. :D:thumbsup:

[terrya]

6. I would suggest...tactfully...that McCain should do so in a calm manner.

I'm not real sure about this "on the fly" stuff. This campaign has gotten very heated. And McCain should be spending some alloted time, where he can take questions in a calm manner.

Unless they want the infamous "volitile temper" to be on display. That would, however, be rather ugly to watch. :-)

[Richardo]

9. I would dearly love to see an incoherent melt-down

:D

[terrya]

11. I'm picturing McCain red faced, screaming, throwing things....

people restraining him, that sort of thing. :-)

[Window]

12. LOL! You, me and a hella lot of other people would too.

[caledesi]

14. Me too. NT

[peace13]

2. The M*Cain camp may already know the questions

and know that their peeps are in charge of the 'debate'.

[Enrique]

3. McCain doesn't have the capacity to do that kind of study

he was a poor student and never bothered to learn about the economy, or even how to use a computer. His public service work consists schmoozing rich folks and appearing on TV shows.

[ebdarcy]

4. Well, to be fair, it's not like McCain needs a whole lot of practice.

It can't be that hard to say "I was a POW" over and over and over again.

[TlalocW]

5. They're afraid that

If they have a guy playing the role of Obama, McCain will get confused and think it's the real Obama. Then if the guy is white, McCain will get even more confused.

TlalocW

[SoonerPride]

7. I fully expect him to make several major mistakes

He has alzheimers

[Schulzz]

8. Can be good in terms of expectations

So we are told McCain is a experienced POW who doesn't even need to practice for debates and Obama is as McCain's ads say "not ready to lead". If the media keeps pushing this, Obama will definately suprise some people on friday.

[Egnever]

10. I dont understand what leads them to believe

foreign policy is his strong suit. Other than the fact that he didnt take early release from his prison camp there isnt much to be proud of on that front for him.

I mean 5 years in not knowing the difference between suni and shia is a pretty fucking glaring weakness if you ask me.

[Chloroplast]

13. Their studying techniques don't seem to have changed since college.

Looking at McCain's planned cram sessions, I now see why he graduated near the bottom of his class.

[newfie11]

15. I bet he's wearing a wire

and the other end has a whole group of advisers on what to say. It will be interesting to see how fast mcidiot answers the questions.

[me b zola]

16. Translation:

McCain's debate tactic = POW. The only preparation that they are making for the debate is to tie each and every issue to POW.