This is McCain’s best debate and Obama’s worst. It may have been the most interesting and had the best moderation of all the debates. I think we’ve also found the one-liners and they’re all from McCain against Obama.
Allright when are we going to get DaveG’s post about how McCain really lost. Actually I think he might have, but then I think McCain may have more room to move up, so he might have benefited politically.
If this were an even race, I think maybe McCain pulls ahead.
But as the guy who is up 4-8 points, Obama has to be pretty happy with his performance tonight. Even though I’m voting for McCain, I didn’t see Obama do anything that would jeopardize his lead tonight. If you’re down 4-8 points, you want a solid win in the last debate. I don’t know that McCain got that.
I disagree #12, I think McCain came off with a solid win from this debate. I’m not sure how it will impact the election overall, but I think it’s only going to help McCain.
You may well be right. One thing I’ve learned this year is that the “average voter” sees the debate a lot different than I do. So as far as the folks in the pews are concerned, my opinions aren’t very indicative.
McCain won tonight, and the country knows it. The first 30 minutes are the most important, and McCain dominated. Obama made a huge mistake laughing during a serious subject. Same mistake he made in new Hampshire against Clinton.
It’s interesting; Charles Krauthammer, who thought McCain won the first two debates, thought Obama won tonight’s. Quin Hilyer, at the American Spectator, who thought McCain lost both the first two debates and thought Palin lost hers, thought McCain won tonight.
McCain needs to talk about everything for the rest of the election about how it will affect “Joe the plumber”. This idea is from over at Townhall, but I think it is spot on.
They need all their ads to focus on this average Joe
How will mine and Obama’s healthcare (tax, education, energy, etc.) plans affect Joe (his small business, his family, his security etc.)?\
Please let McCain run with this plan and please defend your healthcare plan coherently, call Obama our for his lies on healthcare and taxes and use Wright, Ayers and Rezko to call into question Obama’s judgement. Show an ad with those extremists and then directly connect the dots to question Obama’s judgement.
Do an economic 3AM ad. Economic crisis who do you want at the helm?
Obama – got us into this mess with Freddie and Fannie, thinks government is the answer, most liberal socialist proposals in history, largest tax increases in history, 94 votes for higher taxes, most liberal Senator in Washington, no experience, rubber stamp Pelosi and Reid.
McCain – cosponsored legislation for reform that Obama and his liberal Senate collegues blocked, proven tax cutter, plan for fixing the economy, etc.
#20, I don’t think Krauthammer thought McCain won any of the debates…he is enamored by the skills of Obama’s deflection and speaking skills and I think he allows that admiration to affect his judgement on the overall debate performance.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Thank you Senator McCain!
Let’s just hope it wasn’t too late. I hope at least his fight will carry down ticket to help Senate and House candidates who have been hurting lately.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Cute, Doug. And spot-on. Why does Mac always need to be forced into a corner before he finds his voice?
October 15th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
This could be the spark for the final weeks of the campaign. We can still win this election if we work hard enough, we can beat that communist SOB.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
3 – Obama that is…
October 15th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
This is McCain’s best debate and Obama’s worst. It may have been the most interesting and had the best moderation of all the debates. I think we’ve also found the one-liners and they’re all from McCain against Obama.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Doug,
I agree that it was vital that McCain not say “earmarks” in every…… single……… statement.
That was an improvement.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
When I first read “McCain loses”, I thought “Oh no. More from Dave G.”
Nice take on the debate, Doug! Though I think Obama did better than you thought. His closing statement was stronger than McCain’s.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Allright when are we going to get DaveG’s post about how McCain really lost. Actually I think he might have, but then I think McCain may have more room to move up, so he might have benefited politically.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
A tie is a slight win for McCain since he did bad the last 2… He can still win..
October 15th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Heh, Doug beats DaveG to the punch.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
?????
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT
CRYBABY
Poor Jim Greenfield of CBS is in tears.
CBS’s “uncommited” panel is all over McCain.
The CBS punditry is praising McCain. CBS!!!
October 15th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
If this were an even race, I think maybe McCain pulls ahead.
But as the guy who is up 4-8 points, Obama has to be pretty happy with his performance tonight. Even though I’m voting for McCain, I didn’t see Obama do anything that would jeopardize his lead tonight. If you’re down 4-8 points, you want a solid win in the last debate. I don’t know that McCain got that.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
I disagree #12, I think McCain came off with a solid win from this debate. I’m not sure how it will impact the election overall, but I think it’s only going to help McCain.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
mike,
“A tie is a slight win for McCain since he did bad the last 2…”
I have to say a tie is a win for the guy up 4-8 points in the polls with 20 days left.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Sorry for the rant. Thought you meant he lost. Insta-reaction.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Reagan was down 6 in Gallup at this time.
It’s time for a comeback.
JOE THE PLUMBER saved the day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 15th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Matty,
You may well be right. One thing I’ve learned this year is that the “average voter” sees the debate a lot different than I do. So as far as the folks in the pews are concerned, my opinions aren’t very indicative.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
McCain won tonight, and the country knows it. The first 30 minutes are the most important, and McCain dominated. Obama made a huge mistake laughing during a serious subject. Same mistake he made in new Hampshire against Clinton.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
McCain loses the “my friends” phrase he often repeats numerously.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
It’s interesting; Charles Krauthammer, who thought McCain won the first two debates, thought Obama won tonight’s. Quin Hilyer, at the American Spectator, who thought McCain lost both the first two debates and thought Palin lost hers, thought McCain won tonight.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
#20,
I think the safe conclusion is that from now on, we should never trust Krauthammer’s opinion on debates.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
CBS cut off Joe the plummer, when he kept going on about how great McCain,s plan was.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
The silly insta-polls on CBS didn’t come in very well for JMac.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
[...] Doug Forrester: McCain lost his stumbling inability to talk about the economy and middle class issues. [...]
October 15th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
guys, no one is going to remember this in 20 days. Something big needs to happen to change the result.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
McCain needs to talk about everything for the rest of the election about how it will affect “Joe the plumber”. This idea is from over at Townhall, but I think it is spot on.
They need all their ads to focus on this average Joe
How will mine and Obama’s healthcare (tax, education, energy, etc.) plans affect Joe (his small business, his family, his security etc.)?\
Please let McCain run with this plan and please defend your healthcare plan coherently, call Obama our for his lies on healthcare and taxes and use Wright, Ayers and Rezko to call into question Obama’s judgement. Show an ad with those extremists and then directly connect the dots to question Obama’s judgement.
Do an economic 3AM ad. Economic crisis who do you want at the helm?
Obama – got us into this mess with Freddie and Fannie, thinks government is the answer, most liberal socialist proposals in history, largest tax increases in history, 94 votes for higher taxes, most liberal Senator in Washington, no experience, rubber stamp Pelosi and Reid.
McCain – cosponsored legislation for reform that Obama and his liberal Senate collegues blocked, proven tax cutter, plan for fixing the economy, etc.
Please McCain do this and you have a chance.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
#20, I don’t think Krauthammer thought McCain won any of the debates…he is enamored by the skills of Obama’s deflection and speaking skills and I think he allows that admiration to affect his judgement on the overall debate performance.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
colin powell to endorse McCain……
October 15th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
28: wasn’t he going to endorse Obama?