A question? Should Kerry direct his responses to the audience at debate or

[kentuck]

... the audience in the TV-watching public? Is the audience going to be a reflecion of America? If they are all "soft" supporters, I cannot see them as reflective of the country as a whole. Should Kerry just look in the camera and address America or try to convince the small audience in St Louis that he is better than George W Bush to lead this country?

Does it make a difference? Any thoughts on this aspect of the debate?

[dogtag]

1. Clinton managed to do both. I'm sure Kerry has

studied the video.

[Sparkly]

2. Talk to the audience there n/t

[DemocracyInaction]

3. The media dogs are going to be watching for something.......

They desperately want to declare this a Bush victory 'cause he's so "folksy". That means Kerry HAS to be seen as really interacting with the questioner, talking to them, caressing them, loving them, blah blah. OR, you and I both know, they will say that Kerry did not connect with the audience and thus the masterdebater, Super Asshole, won. Go out and love that audience in front of you, John. Pretend you are selling friges to the Eskimos. Do a combination of a preacherman, a door to door salesman, and a daddy.

[yellowcanine]

4. He acknowledges the questioner and then directs the answer to the TV

audience. This is not easy for Kerry so I hope his coaches are working on it. It is the one thing he did not do as effectively as he could have in the first debate. Edwards did it very well in his closing statement the other night.

[soleft]

5. He has to make a person to person connection with the questioner

From what I've heard it was his personal interactions with the audience that put him over the top in Iowa - someone said he wouldn't leave until the last audience member who wanted to ask a question had been given a chance.

I think the key in this debate is that he come off as likable as Bush - he's already established that he's presidential, and intelligent, and his view on security and Iraq resonate with voters views.

What was amazing in the 92 debates was the reaction shots of the individual audience members as Clinton answered their questions - you could see that they felt respected and cared for - we have to see those looks on the faces of the people Kerry talks with.

[LuminousX]

6. Gore and the Farmer

I recall Gore getting all wonkish with the farmer in his Town Hall Style debate and I don't think it played well over the TV. Honestly, I think Kerry needs to be more mindful of the people watching on TV than the people in the auditorium.

[dogtag]

8. Oh boy, would I love to see some farmer engage

'country boy' Shrub in a farmin' debate. Holy pig farm!!!!

[kentuck]

7. If the audience is a pro-Bush setup....

then he might be better off addressing the TV camera. But, TV is not interactive. It is a passive tool. In that sense, I would agree that he should try to connect with the studio audience, if possible. If it is a setup, direct his answers to the TV camera. This is a relevant issue, in my opinion.

[tedoll78]

9. Will we be able to see the audience as Kerry responds?

If so, Kerry needs to try as hard as possible to elicit a positive visual emotional reaction from the questioner. And if possible, try to hug a female.

It sounds silly, I know, but it works..