1. McCain did make one major strategic mistake in the debate. Although he may have thought that he was pushing his "change" theme by invoking his status as a "Maverick," distancing himself from Bush, and talking about earmarks, he dropped it as a framing theme in...
It sure looks like it. The good (unreliable) instant polls for Obama are already framing the narrative in an interesting way: given how many pundits called the debate for McCain, the question is why...
Peter's already made some good points about the debate, but I thought I would weigh in as well.I should start out with a confession. I'm a politics junkie and an international affairs geek. But I...
Really, I think it ends up a push. Both candidates held their own, both got in some solid points, both responded to direct attacks.So, tactically a push. Strategically, though, I think the tie goes...
The further it goes, the more I like this free-wheeling style that allows the candidates to actually go back and forth a bit, responding to each other. I think it gives a bit of insight as to how well they can box their own corner.Again, Obama says "McCain is right..." I think this might be one of those things that plays better to non-pundit viewers than it does to the talking heads, in that it makes Obama look agreeable. Obama is able to start with an acknowledgment of McCain but then assert his own position. We'll have to see on this, I guess.Both of them are landing some solid punches....