I’m not sure you’re correct about that.
Obama spoke fast, threw out a lot of data without always taking the time to explain what it meant, and acted rudely while McCain was speaking. As an ex-college debater, that is rank amateur stuff, and you quickly learn it doesn’t impress an impartial judge. McCain was more deliberate and forceful in his presentation and I think was more persuasive in the eyes of a neutral observer.
We have to remember that “our” votes are locked up, it’s the independent uncommitted voters who McCain needs to pull over to his side. Whether that is done via the force of his logic and argumentation or by his personal style makes no difference, the result is the same. I’m not unbiased but tonight I heard from Obama the same rhetoric and attitude that drove 18 million people to vote for Hillary.
I’m not a trained debater. I am voting McCain - he would make a better president than Obama. We aren;t electing an orator or debater, but the most important executive in the Country.
But I agree with you. The debates aren’t going to sway people like us or our counterparts across the isle. We have made up our minds.
But I don’t think the average independent views this material the same way an academician trained in debates does. I think Obama looked McCain in the eye during the entire debate and McCain avoided looking at Obama. This made McCain look less aggressive than Obama. I think McCain let pass oppotunities to attack Obama on many accusations he made. It gave the impression that Obama was acting “Presidential” and controlling the debates while McCain seemed less sure of himself.
I hope YOU are right and I am WRONG.