Published in the The New York Post on September 27, 2008
There were two debates last night: the first half on the economy, the second half on foreign policy. Barack Obama won the first half; John McCain won the second.
But it was not a draw - because the economy is the most important issue right now.
Plus, a great many people watched only the first half of the debate. Unlike a horse race, it is the opening, not the finish, that is the most important.
Obama entered the debate ahead in the polls, and scored at least a draw - so he’s likely still ahead.
McCain has lost a golden opportunity, and Obama has survived the first debate. So, in the ultimate test of who comes out of this debate ahead, Obama won.
Obama’s performance was glib, direct, specific and substantive. He showed a familiarity with the issues and a capacity for direct answers that has eluded him previously. He has raised his game since the primaries.
McCain’s performance put the age issue aside: He was energetic, alert and specific; he did better as the debate progressed.
He scored especially well in mocking Obama’s failures on foreign policy and projected how naive and unprepared he is on key foreign-policy issues.
But the economy is front and center these days. And on the economy, McCain lost.
He entered the debate after “suspending” his campaign and announcing that he would not attend the debate. The nation wondered why: Was it a stunt, or the start of a carefully thought-out plan to go to the core of this emergency and emerge with a victory and a deal?
By attending the debate, McCain had an obligation to explain himself and to show what he has achieved in suspending his campaign. He struck out totally in this key area.
And he sounded just like Obama in calling for a bipartisan approach. He did far too little to differentiate his position from Obama’s. He did nothing to hammer home the fact that he’s not going to use tax money but rather insurance and loans to finance the rescue package.
We’re left wondering why McCain acted as he did - and suspecting him of just being impulsive, desperate and quirky.
So the taller, younger, better-looking, more articulate man won last night. Obama showed a level of concern for the average American that McCain - who undoubtedly feels that concern - failed to project.
McCain, for his part, did nothing to differentiate himself from Obama on the rescue. And, while he was effective in speaking about reductions in spending, McCain failed to project a concern for “Main Street.”
Nor did he do nearly enough to pin the “big taxer” label on Obama. The Democrat did a far better job of attacking the Republican tax cuts for what he calls the “rich.”
Stylistically, McCain talked to moderator Jim Lehrer while Obama talked into the camera. So we viewers watched McCain debate and Obama speak directly to us. The stylistic difference left us with a sense that Obama is the more focused and compelling candidate.
McCain scored points by pinning the naive label on Obama and warning about the danger of his policies, but that impression was counteracted by the seeming knowledge and seriousness of Obama’s approach. He didn’t look or sound like a naif.
Advantage: Obama.
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Comments
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o9.27.08. Fox News Poll at 06:14am McCain 84%, Obama 14%, Undecided 1% Its hard to cofuse the American Voting Public. Lachlan
Tie Goes To Obama
Charles Krauthammer said last night on FOX that the outcome of the debate reminded him of a newspaper article following a Harvard/Yale football game which proclaimed that “Harvard Beat Yale 29-29″. Unfortunately, I agree with Krauthammer. McCain need…
Dear Mr. Morris,
Again I find it refreshing to get a real professional opinion without all the spin.I agree with everything you have stated. I watched the debate and would like you to address body language and McCain’s unwillingness to engage Obama in a more personal and engaging manner.
Respectfully
Don
I agree with your points. Also, I thought Lehrer did a great job and kept the debate on-track and interesting. He prodded them away from their talking points and caught both apparently off-guard with the question about shifting priorities as a result of the cost of the bailout. He tried hard, with only some success, to get them to go at each other. It was a good debate.
Probably like you, I am baffled as to why McCain didn’t rip into the Bush/Obama bailout plan as dumping tall the pain on the taxpayers without getting skin in the game from Wall Street through loans and insurance. I guess the opportunity to be the taxpayers champion is still there but he definitely “lost the moment”.
[…] Dick Morris seems to agree (click here) … […]
i think john mccain won the debate……and looked and sounded more presidential……..he appears to have the edge in life experience….he appears to me to be able to make rational judgements….not pie-in-the-sky plans..or stategies……….i am frankly appalled at the recent polls that have the economy as the number one issue…..and not foreign policy……there are a lot of mean people out in the world that want this country destroyed…..and they will stop at nothing to do it………..i want someone that has the guts to stand up to these monsters and not someone who wants to bargain with them…..i can’t believe the people of this country would have bombs dropping outside their doorsteps and think only of what interest rate they can get on their next car purchase……….wake up America………..
[…] in the foreign policy issues of the latter part of the debate. I list the first section of his column here because of my great respect for Dick Morris’ ability to analyze events in the political […]
Each candidate rose to the challenges Friday night, scoring critical points on one another. It was exciting at times, but neither emerged as the obvious winner except perhaps to their partisans. There were good exchanges but few big moments of the kind that can change a presidential race.