I watched the debate at the Rusty Nail, a no-nonsense joint in Saranac Lake.<\/p>\n
My first take-away was that every drinker in the bar – including one very serious drinker – was watching intently.<\/p>\n
What does that say about this election, when a Tuesday night debate takes top billing at the Rusty Nail. People are dialed in.<\/p>\n
My second take-away? It was a tie. The victory on points could go to either side, depending on your partisan leanings.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately for McCain, a tie probably goes to Obama. Obama owns the momentum currently and I saw nothing tonight that would change that.<\/p>\n
John McCain threatened to take the gloves off and I didn’t see that happen. Some cross words were spoken.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, it was pretty dull. Which Obama has to love.<\/p>\n
Think I missed something? Leave a comment.<\/p>\n
Now for some fine point stuff:<\/p>\n
McCain has a very 19th century debating style. Formal postures, zingers, repeats phrases like “My friends.”<\/p>\n
Obama is more post-Clinton, a kind of practiced naturalism. His speaking is stiff, professorial at times, but his body language is relaxed — more dinner party than soapbox.<\/p>\n
On the issues, I felt like there was zero new ground covered here. Pretty similar talking points and narratives.<\/p>\n
Weakest moments:<\/p>\n
Obama talking about Russia and the crisis in Georgia – he sounded muddled, as if rifling through cue cards in his mind.<\/p>\n
McCain talking about healthcare. His plan is complicated — and he hasn’t found a way to talk about it yet.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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