It was a performance so strong that even conservative Fox News contributors could recognize its significance.
Barack Obama pummeled John McCain during the first nationally-televised Presidential Debate - a debate that was supposed to favor McCain due to its explicitly-stated focus on foreign policy.
As I write this, CNN has released a scientific viewer poll that shows the viewing public sees Obama as the winner of this debate by a 51%-35% spread. I took detailed notes during each part of the debate from start to finish. Here are a few of my observations based on what I saw and heard - both from the candidates and the CNN undecided focus group viewer ratings:
- The Economy
Not surprisingly, there was a portion of the debate that was dedicated to the current economic crisis. Obama scored big on the Republican lack of oversight and regulation of the financial markets that led to the crisis. He hit McCain early and often regarding McCain's support of continuing Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy. When McCain tried to cast Obama as someone who would raise taxes across the board, Obama immediately called him out on that assertion as untrue and twice reiterated the fact that 95% of all working Americans would either pay the same or less taxes under his plan. When the narrative turned to what constituted "rich", Obama hammered home the fact that, under his plan, those making more than $250,000/year are considered wealthy.
McCain proceeded to move into ragging Obama over less than one billion dollars he has sought in earmarks during his tenure in the Senate. Obama struck back by pointing out that the Iraq War is costing the American taxpayers $10 billion per month - and in doing so turned a potentially damaging point by McCain into yet another sad consequence of an unpopular war.
The effort by Lehrer to get the candidates to expound upon the fiscal consequences of an economic bailout plan that, as of the debate, does not yet exist was, quite frankly, very painstaking to watch. Both identified minor areas that could be cut from national spending - although McCain's idea to cut ethanol subsidies enhanced Obama's assertion that he was weak in his support of alternatives to oil. The real haymaker landed by Obama on the issue of spending was when he proclaimed that, while McCain said he was against increased spending, that he has supported the Republican budgets during the past eight years - calling such budgets "Republican spending orgies".
In all, the economic portion of the debate was a huge win for Obama - both on style and substance. The focus group being polled during the debate by CNN was composed of equal parts of Republicans, Independents, and Democratic Party members. During the entire economic portion of the debate, Obama was receiving very strong marks from Democratic Party members and Independents - and in some cases, from Republicans in the room. McCain, by comparison, looked very impatient and angry at times - and his focus group ratings reflected his inability to match Obama on the issue of the economy.
- Foreign Policy
This was McCain's chance to really score a game-changer in the form of extolling the depth of his expertise and experience. Instead, he watched Barack Obama pummel him again and again on his judgment in supporting the War in Iraq.
McCain tried to cast Obama as one who voted against funding for the troops - and in return, Obama pointed out that he only voted against that bill because of a difference in opinions on timetables for withdrawal of the troops. McCain tried to justify the War in Iraq time and time again - and in return, Obama pointed out that the mistake of invading Iraq has left us vulnerable in Afghanistan. Every point McCain tried to make regarding Iraq was thrown back in his face. In all, Obama destroyed McCain on the Iraq War issue (including a laundry list of 'You were wrong on...' items that really resonated with the focus group) - which set the table for the remaining portion of the debate.
Obama's points on Pakistan further enhanced his foreign policy score in this debate. He pointed out that we are funneling $10 billion of aid into Pakistan - and in return, we need to have the complete support of that government in The War on Terror for that aid to continue. He took a hard-line stance regarding Pakistan apropos the Al-Qaeda elements that have been allowed to scurry from Afghanistan into that country. For some reason, hawk-extraordinaire McCain eschewed that idea. In the end, the focus group responded very, very well to Obama's idea of how to handle Pakistan and very poorly to McCain's words.
The discussion on Iran began looking very much like an opening for John McCain. Not surprisingly, McCain tried to hit Obama on his openness to meet with foreign leaders of hostile countries without pre-conditions. Unbeknownst to McCain, Obama was about to point out that his own foreign policy advisor, Former Secretary of State for President Nixon Henry Kissinger (as well as five other former Secretaries of State), holds the same position as Obama. When McCain tried to debunk that position, Obama held firm and to the end maintained its accuracy. That was a huge score for Obama and a defining moment of this debate.
The final issues of Russia and the likelihood of future attacks on our soil really did not produce any statements from the candidates contrary to what we have heard from both for several months now. Judging by the lack of response from the focus group when both spoke, I got the feeling that they were just ready for the debate to end.
Final Grades For Each Candidate
McCain = C-
John McCain was uncomfortably aggressive during the discussion of the economy. He looked agitated during the entire debate - and the fact that he didn't look his opponent in the eye or use the term 'middle class' once made him come across as an angry, unfriendly old Washington politician in the mold of Bob Dole. He told the American people more stories than solutions tonight. In those respects, this was a poor performance on the part of Republican John McCain.
Obama = A-
I thought Barack Obama demonstrated a command of economic and foreign policy issues that will erase any remaining doubts on the part of undecided conservative Democratic Party members, Independents, and progressive Republicans. The breadth of knowledge he displayed regarding all facets of the foreign policy discussion was impressive - even to his supporters. He consistently and successfully countered each and every criticism McCain leveled against his economic plan - and his haymakers regarding Iraq and Henry Kissenger were golden in every sense. The only reason he doesn't get an "A" or "A+" for this performance is the lack of details he could have included during the economic discussion. Although this was a foreign policy debate, the fact that the economy was front-and-center tonight presented an opportunity to point out the 250% increase in gas prices, the 6.1% unemployment rate, and the fact that working class families are actually making less now than they were eight years ago. However, the good news here is the fact that this is the first of four total debates between these campaigns. Conventional wisdom dictates that these salient issues will not be lost on the Obama-Biden campaign as the debate narrative swings from foreign policy to domestic issues - including the economy.
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