I don't take notes while I watch a debate, so unlike reporters who caught some gaffes on the part of one or the other candidate, I just rely on my overall impression, and my overall impression confirmed my general sense of the candidates that I held prior to the debates.
Obama was gracious and engaging, willing to say McCain was right on numerous occasions, (being deferential?) before he pointed out the areas in which he thought McCain was wrong. Obama was also knowledgable and competent. He knew his facts, he had a clear idea of where he wanted to take the country, and he attempted to speak directly to McCain and make eye contact, though McCain never let him. He seemed relaxed and conversational, calling McCain by his first name, but being firm when he needed to be. He let McCain get in a few good hits, even unfair and dishonest ones, but he has done that throughout the campaign and so tonight was really no different. Obama doesn't get ruffled or show a lot of emotion, and he sometimes just brushes off attacks. This makes people like me, and the rest of his supporters, nervous and impatient for him to hit back, but his strategy seems to work. Slow and steady. Don't get defensive or distracted. Keep looking ahead. It works well for him.
McCain, on the other hand, was decidedly ungracious. He started the debate by making his announcement that Sen. Kennedy was in the hospital, which made him look silly as it had already been reported that Sen. Kennedy had gone home. After that one attempt to be gracious to someone from the opposing party, he treated Obama like he was some kind of gum stuck to his shoe. He repeatedly said "Senator Obama doesn't understand" and then Obama showed he did understand. He never once made eye contact, never once spoke to Obama, never once called him by his first name. He alternated between looking angry and putting on that silly fake smile that is a cover for the simmering contempt he has for his rival.
And finally, McCain seemed old, and more comfortable with the past than the present. He kept referring to Reagan, and Lebanon, and World War II. He reminded me of an elderly Latin teacher I once had who was brought out of retirement to be a substitute for an ailing colleague. The sub brought in projects her former students had constructed over the years - amateur models of great Roman architecture, which were crumbling and full of cobwebs. She thought it gave her credibility with us. We thought it pathetic. I felt a bit that way last night while watching McCain. He really is simply too old and out of touch with today's realities for this job.
I felt the press was mostly rooting for Obama. They have turned on McCain this week, after he turned on them, and they have lost patience with his stunts and his no-nothing vice presidential nominee. They wanted Obama to score a "knockout." They wanted him to attack and finish McCain off, because they are tired of following McCain around on his wild goose chases and trying to figure out his nonsensical strategy. And they have stopped pretending that Sarah Palin is in the same league as other vice presidential nominees (except for maybe Dan Quayle and even Quayle looks qualified when compared to her.)
While I once think they wanted to keep the race close so their ratings would be up until the last minute, I now think they have tired of McCain playing them. They take themselves more seriously than that. So they're not going to cut him a break like they once did. Even the conservative reporters are disappointed in McCain.
We've had a surprise a minute in this election season, but last night's debate held no real surprises, once McCain finally decided to show up. At times last night I thought McCain was angry because he was forced to attend a debate which he thought he had weasled out of. But on second thought, I believe he appeared angry simply because he despises Obama.
And one final note. Instead of showing us he is the "maverick," McCain had to say he was. Instead of showing us he was experienced, McCain had to keep claiming he was. Instead of showing bipartisanship, McCain had to keep saying he was bipartisan. Instead of being the dignified hero of the Vietnam War, McCain had to remind people of his time as a POW.
When you have to remind people of things about you that everyone once believed, it means people no longer believe it. That isn't a good sign.
