Who has more to gain from debates at this stage: Obama or McCain?

[kennetha]

Typically, it's the trailing candidate who wants debates and more debates. Remember how Hilllary tried and failed to make an issue out of Obama's refusal to debate during the Wisconsin primary? Since McCain is tanking in the polls, one would think that he would be eager to debate -- as trailing candidates usually are. Debates are the only remaining game-changer left for McCain --especially since the election is likely to be all about the economy - his weak suit.

But, of course, he's calling for the first debate to be postponed.

Why?

Some say fear of debating. Some say an attempt to shift the spotlight away from his bad polls. Some say he's trying to lay a trap of some sort for Obama.

What's your explanation?

[tekisui]

1. He is trying to stop the bleeding.

His campaign is nearing a tailspin and he is attempting to divert attention from that, trying to buy time. He knows that the debates won't help him much. He did poorly during the Primaries, and that was when his attention was diffused among 7 other losers. It will be all eyes on him and Obama, and the contrast will be stark and hurt him more.

He's running scared, and apparently out of cash.

[enigmatic]

6. Absolutely

This is a desperation move by McCain to buy time, and all it's done is to pour more gasoline on the fire of his candidacy.

[kennetha]

7. Don't understand this reasoning.

So is this what McCain is thinking to himself:

"My polls are tanking. I'm falling way behind. And there's a debate coming up on Friday. Oh no! Not a debate! I need to avoid taking part in that debate at all costs. If I do take part in that debate, I'm going to get my clocked cleaned and my polls are going to tank even further. After all, it's not like I have anything to say on foreign policy -- which is the subject of the debate. Plus the debate will probably also get into the crisis on wall street. And I have nothing to say there either. Obama would just cream me. So i better do what I can to make these debates not happen. Oh, I know. I'll play the "I'm above politics, card." I'll manufacture a crisis I'll pretend I'm actually needed in Washington -- leading my party."

Is that seriously what you think McCain must be thinking?

[enigmatic]

8. I don't think he is thinking

He's panicking. He can't lean on his VP because she's even more of a joke than he is at this point. They don't have any options, so they decided to stall.

[Mz Pip]

2. McCain wants a 'time out'

He's trying to slow the Obama momentum.

The financial crisis is important but so is the election. The debate in Congress and the debate in MISSISSIPPI should not be mutually exclusive. It is important to have both. The fact that McCain does not understand this shows me how inept he really is.

Besides why is McCain in such a hurry to return to DC? Doesn't he have the worst attendance record in the Senate?

[kennetha]

5. If he's trying to slow Obama, wouldn't he debate?

An audience of 100 million people would watch the debates. What trailing candidate would willingly give up such an opportunity? That's a potential game changer -- and the only one McCain really has left. Do you think McCain is so deluded about his own situation that he can't see that he has more to gain from debates than Obama?

[SMC Beck]

11. McCain Inept

It was easy to see that yesterday McCain was becoming flustered and could not keep his thoughts clear about the financial problems. He kept interchanging the words government and economy. It was ridiculous.

[crazy_vanilla]

3. McCrazy knows that he is toast, so he will grab at any straw

he knows he is going to bomb at the debate, so he is looking for any and every way to avoid it.

[doc03]

4. I think this going back to Washington to grandstand

as the bi-partisan maverick could work in McCain's favor. You know Faux is going to play it up that the great maverick is putting politics aside for the good of the country. What a dishonorable back stabbing SOB to pull off this stunt. I think other Democrats should say McCain is using this financial crises for political gain.

[FrenchieCat]

22. I think everyone knows this is for political gain......

And they better say that is what they understand, because it is.

Nobody is that stupid. Not even the American People.

[doc03]

25. Sorry to say we do have people here in Ohio

that are that stupid.

[Labors of Hercules]

27. How do you explain that even Faux has called it an ill-advised political stunt?

ALREADY.

[doc03]

28. I heard Bill O'Rielly and Dick Morris saying what

a brilliant move it was.

[TrogL]

9. McCain

America has been raised on "sound bites".

30-second commercials.

"punch line" sitcoms with hardly any plot

10-second "action news" stories vs. in-depth reporting

McCain has thousands of them in his arsenal. They don't even have to many any sense. They just need to sound "homey" and he's won the debate.

Obama, much as I love the man, is a retired college professor (IIUC) and sounds like one. I slept through most of my college lectures. America (except for a tiny minority who's already voting Obama) will stop listening after the first 10 seconds, get resentful at 20 seconds, and storm out of the room to get another beer at 30 seconds.

[kennetha]

10. I agree almost totally

Which raises the question, if McCain has much more to be gained from debates than Obama, then why would he call for the debate to be postponed?

[Hippo_Tron]

12. I've started a mildly unpopular thread with my explanation

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7175993&mesg_id=7175993

And thus I don't think McCain actually plans on not debating. That said if hypothetically one candidate were to gain from no debates it would depend on the news cycles from now until the election. If it's another five weeks of economic bad news, then Obama could probably stay home and just keep giving McSame rope to hang himself with.

However, if there are some major developments overseas, then Obama will want to have had the foreign policy debate to establish his commander-in-chief credentials.

[Stop Cornyn]

13. McCain's just trying to interrupt in "he's falling and can't get up" news cycle

[kennetha]

16. Wouldn't the best way to do that

be to best Obama in a debate watched by 100 million potential voters?

Again, trailing candidates HUNGER for debates. Leading candidates are indifferent to debates. McCain isn't doing himself any obvious favor by postponing this debate.

[Stop Cornyn]

19. That (1) wouldn't affect the news cyle until the weekend, (2) would require McCain to win the debate

The first is undesirable from McCain's perspective; the second unlikely.

[kennetha]

20. You mean McCain

doesn't believe he can win a debate with Obama? Why, then, did he asks for so many townhall format type debates. Whether deluded or not, McCain strikes me as utterly confident in his own abilities to handle Obama.

[quakerboy]

21. Because they planned to stock

the "town halls" with supporters, thus making them not debates but traps. Cheering for McCains answers, cold to Obama. Put 14 Crowds of people on TV for hours at a time who are just shy of booing Obama, and that will shape perception.

[Stop Cornyn]

26. McCain likes the townhall format and doesn't like debates because debate questions are issue

orientated and specific and come with follow up questions but townhall questions are often naive and unresearched and don't allow for follow up questions when the candidate just dumps a non-responsive soundbite in place of an answer to the question.

McCain is utterly confident that he can wing it in a townhall meeting because that's what he does for a living -- he takes simple questions and provides soundbites in response and moves onto the next person with out allowing for a follow up.

[and-justice-for-all]

14. The trap thing is no longer an issue..

it will take place as scheduled and Obama will hand that old coot his wrinkled ass.

[firedupdem]

15. I think he needed to hide for a bit..the last two weeks have been

horrible for him. His campaign manager gets busted on the lobbyist money, sarah is outed in the enquirer, the polls are showing him moving further and further down..plus all his stupid statements last week. He needed to regroup. I really think he didn't realize just how dumb sarah is and today it was just too much. They have lashed out at major newspapers and the list goes on and on. Plus, he wakes up this morning and his eye is drooping...he said fuck it..I need a few days off.

[graywarrior]

23. Good example of what he'd do as president

Same thins he current guy does....get confused?...take a few days off.

[amborin]

17. it's a trick

whether it works or not, we don't know yet

he's trying to paint our guy as being political at a time when ordinary americans are suffering

he's trying to make voters think O only cares about his election and politics, and not about voters' plight

it's all an act

but with an electorate that falls for this stuff, it may work

another similar attempt is rethugs' attempt to say O was holding major fundraising events this past week, and not concentrating on the unfolding meltdown

of course the meltdown was a long time coming, and no big surprise

and the bailout is a total swindle, and it's the beginning of a dictatorship

but will voters realize all this???

[kennetha]

18. this is more reasonable than other explanations offered.

Don't know if it's right, but it's at least has the benefit of not making McCain into an utter cowering idiot who has taken leave of his senses.

[goletian]

24. obama. plz, easy answer. obama will not let him get away with any lies.

mccain was able to lie his ass off in the repub debates, obama wont let that shit slide. and biden will tear palin apart, she loses debates when shes only answering questions in a fuckin interview. this shit is in the fuckin bag. no way mccain will come out on top.

mccain is only tryin to take over the media for a few days and see if he can get a bump out of his little stunt. hes got nothin to offer the american people. the dorks already admitted he knows dick about econ. hes useless. hes a month away and wants to suspend? its desperation. the guy is gonna try to do anything to change the momentum. it aint gonna work.

[freestyle]

29. Obama has a chance close the deal.

McCain has a chance to look unprepared and uninformed. There is more downside risk for McCain. Obama gets to keep looking presidential, and steady.