The Get Off My Lawn Variety Hour, Part 6: Flatline Edition

If you're watching the debate on CNN, you will notice that the panel of voters they gave rapid-response dials to is responding to McCain's answers with a resounding "meh." The lines really spiked though when Obama spoke about mortage relief for homeowners.

McCain has switched from Blinky to Walky, as he meanders a bit too much across the stage. That does not come off well on TV.  However, his tone is steady, strong, and he is trying really hard to "connect" with the audience with changing the inflection in his voice and coming close--sometimes too close--to the audience.
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Obama has a great presence in this format, and has clearly practiced how best to balance the town hall format with debating on TV.

While he is attacking McCain frequently, it's fascinating to note that almost every time he does so, the audience approval lines go down.  Clearly, the CNN panel, like Americans at large, do not want to hear politicians talk about other politicians.  They want to talk about the issues instead.
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McCain's comment about reigning in defense spending gets nods of approval from the audience and a pretty good response on CNN's audience response dials.  McCain reiterates his call for a spending freeze, except for veterans affairs, defense, and some other vital programs.

Obama discusses 9/11 and the sense of unity that this country felt in the aftermath of the tragedy.  He praises what Bush did "at the outset," but says that telling people to go out and shop after 9/11 "wasn't the call of service the people were looking for."