On the contrary, I think he did quite well.
You have to consider that he is answering for the sake of an uncommitted audience, not us - we are hostile, and we aren’t likely to cut him any slack, but thats not most people.
In a debate he may indeed come off as wishy-washy, pettifogging or untrustworthy, he certainly is capable of that, but I am not convinced he will do that badly.
Pettifogging. Nice one, I learned a new word.
He was “thoughtful”. Granted, I’m biased. But he just thought too much. When someone says, you are dealing with a terrorist, you should have a brusque, short answer. You shouldn’t have to think about “how to phrase it”.
I was surprised, but Dick Morris picked up the same theme tonight. He thinks the interviews damaged Obama, showed him as weak. “He thought too much”.
He also said he had always though Obama would win the debates, but after seeing the interview, he thinks McCain will win. Obama just can’t give a straight answer.