(image via bbc)
Tonight's debate format in Nashville should be interesting. The audience will be made up of 80 undecided voters and the subject is the economy, which, technically, should favor the party not in charge of the Executive branch. We cannot fail to note, however, that McCain, we think, turned in a stronger performance on points than Obama at their last encounter. McCain, though, needs a win to bring momentum back to his campaign, which is trailing a bit in the polls because of the economy.
Expect McCain to go on the offensive, using buzzwords like "liberal," "radical," "Chicago politician," "community organizer," and revisiting the William Ayers controversy, lending a sort of 1960s culture wars vibe to the proceedings. Obama, by contrast, has used the word "erratic" frequently during the past few days, questioning McCain's temperament, perhaps attempting to get under Arizona Senator's skin from a position of cool even handedness. Both candidates for the highest office want to make the other look un-Presidential.
Says Katharine Seelye in the NYTimes, "Watch for Mr. McCain to present a hotter, more confrontational persona, while Mr. Obama will show his cooler self, both in the sense of remaining unruffled and in staying at more of a remove from the audience."
Says John McCormick and Jill Zuckman of The Chicago Tribune,"Tuesday night's town hall setting, however, may not be conducive to the hard-hitting volleys dished out by their spokesmen and surrogates multiple times a day. Rhetoric that is too harsh could very well turn off the audience, or even prompt them to publicly chastise the candidates. Participants in the forum's audience have been selected because they are supposed to be undecided voters."
McCain will have to tread the thin line of aggressive and appearing too hot. Obama, who will probably try to make McCain lose his cool, will have to answer to the charges of "too liberal" in Tennessee, all the while appearing Presidential.
It should be good ...
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