Obviously, the target audience was the whole of America that was watching CNN. Because the Forum was sponsored by Rick Warren, I would assume that there was a larger than usual evangelical component to that audience but the target is the whole television audience which vastly outnumbers evangelicals who were watching.
Secondly, you have to know what the expectations of each candidate was coming into the forum.
I have already done that. Obama merely has to show that he is presidential timber. McCain must overwhelm Obama's performance. This is true if you believe that this is a secular democratic year like 1980 was set up for Ronald Reagan.if you do not except that premise,of course you will come to a different conclusion.
Thirdly, the audience response to each candidates responses spoke volumes about how they felt about their answers.
The audience in the auditorium is a self-selected group of evangelical conservatives. Of course they're going to favor the conservative. I too was overwhelmed by McCain's performance. But then I am also a conservative. But this audience doesn't really matter, the vast television audience matters much more than a few hundred people in the auditorium.Assuming the audience was liberally salted with Obama supporters, (this could be I do not know) you are right, McCain performed better. That was never my point. I fully accept that McCain performed better.
McCain solidified himself with manny Evangelicals and likely gained a large number of their votes due to his performance in this forum.
I wholeheartedly agree. But the point of my post is that the great mushy middle of America does not march to the same drummer as we do. And they, not we, elect presidents
