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Oct

16


The final debate was help last night and according to every poll taken – yes, FOX too –  Barack Obama won.  For those who are keeping count, that’s three for three or, if you add in the VP debate, four for four .

Most analysis agree that Obama started off slow, but as the debate wore on, he was able to more convincingly relate his positions and to take on the attacks that the McCain campaign had been leveling at him.  One incident in particular was Obama preempting the Ayers controversy by saying that McCain’s campaign had been saying that he had been pallin’ around with terrorist.

By bringing it up first, McCain was put on the defensive, which made him have to justify it as an issue.  This lessen the impact that the controversy could have, if any, which made the whole spectacle appear out of place.

McCain did have one high-point in the debate when he said that if (Obama) wanted to run against George Bush, that he should had run four years ago and by stating “I am not President Bush.”

Unfortunately for McCain, this victory was short lived.  After a minute or so had passed, Obama said, “… if I occasionally have mistaken your policies for George Bush’s policies, it’s because on the core economic issues that matter to the American people, on tax policy, on energy policy, on spending priorities, you have been a vigorous supporter of President Bush.”

One of the more interesting questions asked by Schieffer was about Palin’s qualifications to be VP.  McCain stated her oil pipe line deal and taking on the oil industry as qualifications, nothing about foreign policy.  When Obama was asked to respond, he deflected the question by saying it up to the American people to decide.  Given Palin’s unfavorability ratings, it was smart of Obama not to try to add gas to the fire, in addition, any answer he could have given could have easily backfired. 

In the end though, must analyst acknowledged that it all came down to style.  For much of the debate, McCain appeared angry, tense and uncomfortable.  Obama on the other hand appeared relaxed, poised and in control.  If there is a criticism to be leveled against Obama it is that he counter-punched throughout most of the debate instead of taking it directly to McCain.

As for who really won the debate, we have to wait a couple of days until we see the new polls.

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