tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719252574677567989.post2127342837019850999..comments2024-03-26T05:22:08.256-04:00Comments on Frontloading HQ: The Electoral College Map (10/7/08)Josh Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06301836432446874997noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719252574677567989.post-29035122709618091612008-10-07T11:53:00.001-04:002008-10-07T11:53:00.001-04:00The campaign is taking on a very nasty tone, but t...The campaign is taking on a very nasty tone, but the format tonight is not conducive to attacks. Also, the expectations for McCain are highest in the town hall format. I agree with you, Scott, that the pressure is really on McCain. Some of McCain's biggest gaffes have been in this format. McCain can't show his surly side. Obama just needs to hold his own and keep the focus on the economy. It will be interesting to see how it all unfolds.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719252574677567989.post-27464088638054120352008-10-07T11:53:00.000-04:002008-10-07T11:53:00.000-04:00The debate tonight will be a bad one for McCain.He...The debate tonight will be a bad one for McCain.<BR/><BR/>Here's my reasoning:<BR/><BR/>He was criticized in the first debate for not looking at Obama. One possible response to that would be to go Palin's route: "I did that because I'm interested in talking directly to the American people." If he works that in tonight somehow, he may come out OK.<BR/><BR/>But that hasn't been his m.o. so far. When confronted by his handlers, campaign staff, and high-profile supporters, he's caved. This was notable in his backing down from choosing Lieberman as VP, and it was notable in his deciding to attend the first debate after all. In both cases, conventional wisdom won out in the end.<BR/><BR/>So this time he'll doubtless be advised to look at Obama, and he'll do it.<BR/><BR/>But the format for tonight is a town hall, with no planned opportunities for exchanges between candidates. And there's a narrative out there that McCain is an angry, even mean, kind of guy. So if someone in the audience asks him a question, and then McCain turns to Obama and says something to him, or if McCain stares at Obama while Obama's answering...well, I don't think that will go over well.<BR/><BR/>And if McCain has a bad night tonight, we're approaching the point where he would need a miracle to win the election...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com