Tonight’s debate in Oxford marks the end of a week of high drama. The buildup was intense. Who would show up . . . when . . . and under what conditions?
Who won?
If you scored it “by the punch” like Olympic boxing (as CNN did in real time via their pundits), it was probably pretty even. McCain had more substance. Obama had more style. There were no game changing zingers from either side. However, if you scored it like the prize fight that it was, I think McCain clearly showed he was the better fighter in this particular topic. If it was scored “by the round” using principles like “ring generalship”, McCain clearly would earn a unanimous decision in the fight. Often in questions he would go back thirty or forty years and intersperse personal experience and speak to personal relationships with the key players on the world stage. Obama was at a marked disadvantage having only two years of shaky foreign policy exposure at best.
McCain stayed on the offensive all night. Both McCain and Obama did not really want to drill down to be overly specific on the issues related to the Bailout. McCain also hit Obama directly with a steady stream of comments along the lines of Obama being “naive”, “inexperienced”, “not ready to lead” and that “he doesn’t understand”. It wasn’t flashy, but it was well rehearsed and effective. It will be hard to review any substantive exchange from any part of that debate and not hear McCain hit Obama along those lines.
Probably the most hokey part of the debate was when Obama had a little “me-too” moment. McCain talked of being given a bracelet by a woman who had lost her son in the War on Terror as a reminder to “do the right thing” and win the war. Obama came back with a pretty lame “I’ve got a bracelet, too” story.
At the end of the day, there were no “You’re No JFK” moments, but McCain clearly guided the direction and the pace of the fight and won on content.
Foreign Policy was obviously going to be a stronger topic for McCain than Obama. Obama’s expectations will be raised substantially for the debate focused on the Economy.
From all outward appearances, the City of Oxford and the folks at Ole Miss did an outstanding job and this event certainly reflected well on both. Also, Jim Lehrer did an outstanding job of keeping the debate interesting, fair and on pace.
Strap in political junkies. The next 40 days will be as good as it gets.
Magnolia Tribune
