Who Won the Debate?

Socrtease

Socrtease

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The experts said this was John McCain's last best chance to turn the tide. The election has been going Barack Obama's way, and his republican rival needed a big win in the third and final debate. Did Sen. McCain get it? The polls say one thing, but do the pundits agree?

The Polls
According to a national poll that CNN conducted after the debate, 58% of people felt Barack Obama won the debate, while 31% felt that John McCain performed better. The poll also indicates that the majority of people polled felt Obama would do a better job on the economy, health care, and taxes. Additionally, those polled felt Obama was more likable and the stronger leader.

While CNN's poll suggests an Obama landslide, the folks at Politico have different results. According to an "exclusive survey" of undecided voters, 49% of folks felt Sen. Obama won, while 46% believed Sen. McCain could claim victory. Politico notes that the 3-point difference is within the poll's margin of error.

CBS News conducted its own poll of uncommitted voters and found that Barack Obama won the third debate by a wide margin: 53% believed that Sen. Obama was stronger while 22% sided with Sen. McCain. A full 25% thought it was too close to call. It wasn't all bad news for McCain, though. According to the poll, more uncommitted voters trust the Arizona senator to handle a crisis.

The Pundits
ABC analyst (and former Bill Clinton aide) George Stephanopoulos wrote that this was McCain's best effort, but that Obama was still the victor. Stephanopoulous credited Obama's ability to stay cool and not grow exasperated during his opponent's attacks.

Fox News asked a collection of in-house experts who won the debate, and the opinions were...well...fair and balanced. Some felt that McCain was feisty (in a good way) and proved that he is ready for a fight. Others believed that McCain didn't score the huge hit he needed to stop Obama's momentum.

Time's Mark Halperin graded both candidates on style, substance, offense, and defense. The columnist felt Obama did well (he earned a "B"), but that McCain bested him in all areas. The Maverick scored an A-.

http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzzlog/91909
 
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I agree with Stephanopoulos' comments. I was somewhat dismayed, though not surprised, that McCain completely failed to acknowledge that the ads run by his campaign were personal and negative. Instead he spent considerable time whining about criticism levelled at him for the tone of his campaign by a member of his own party.

Frankly, I don't want a leader who can't recognize and admit his own mistakes and take steps to correct them. The defensive tone of his entire campaign is revolting.
 
But McCain is not Bush! LOL

of course it is all political speak so exempt from the truth in advertising laws.
 
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uscitizen said:
Bus McCain is not Bush! LOL

of course it is all political speak so exempt from the truth in advertising laws.
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That's a point that's been bothering me a lot during this campaign. Why is campaign rhetoric exempt? Don't the people deserve better than that? Frankly I'm appalled and insulted.
 
Thorn said:
That's a point that's been bothering me a lot during this campaign. Why is campaign rhetoric exempt? Don't the people deserve better than that? Frankly I'm appalled and insulted.
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Thorn go read about rhetoric used in debates during the time of our countrys founding. It makes Obama's and McCain's rhetoric seem like they are lovers. I find the negative stuff appaling too but this campaign is no different than any of the other campaigns in our history.
 
cawacko said:
Thorn go read about rhetoric used in debates during the time of our countrys founding. It makes Obama's and McCain's rhetoric seem like they are lovers. I find the negative stuff appaling too but this campaign is no different than any of the other campaigns in our history.
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I read a little in "The Emancipator's Wife" about Abraham Lincoln's opponent's campaign; it was beyond nasty. At least then they didn't have the sort of communications technology that we do now. If you can recommend any readings I'd appreciate it. (Remember I'm a Canadian transplant and haven't had the same exposure to this that you have :) )
 
Thorn said:
I read a little in "The Emancipator's Wife" about Abraham Lincoln's opponent's campaign; it was beyond nasty. At least then they didn't have the sort of communications technology that we do now. If you can recommend any readings I'd appreciate it. (Remember I'm a Canadian transplant and haven't had the same exposure to this that you have :) )
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I can't think of any one book in particular but I know reading John Adams by David McCoullough (sp) and the Founding Fathers and a book on George Washington and Alexander Hamilton the names and accussations against each of the candidates will leave you aghast.

The problem with negative campaigning is that it's been shown to work so that's why its always used. I guess I'm like you where I don't like it at all and why many people get turned off by politics and politicians.

But from a historical context in our country what you are seeing today is relatively tame compared to past elections.
 
Thorn said:
I read a little in "The Emancipator's Wife" about Abraham Lincoln's opponent's campaign; it was beyond nasty. At least then they didn't have the sort of communications technology that we do now. If you can recommend any readings I'd appreciate it. (Remember I'm a Canadian transplant and haven't had the same exposure to this that you have :) )
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I'm sure you've answered this before so I'm sorry for not knowing but where abouts in Canada are you from? When I was real young my family lived in Vancouver and I have a bunch of relatives in Newfoundland who I had to visit once.
 
cawacko said:
I'm sure you've answered this before so I'm sorry for not knowing but where abouts in Canada are you from? When I was real young my family lived in Vancouver and I have a bunch of relatives in Newfoundland who I had to visit once.
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I grew up on the southern tip of Nova Scotia, did high school in Toronto and my first two degrees in Ottawa, doctorate in Montreal. Worked a lot in between. I promised myself a trip to Vancouver at every graduation but never made it :( I'd love to visit Newfoundland! I still keep in touch with childhood friends in NS.
 
Thorn said:
I grew up on the southern tip of Nova Scotia, did high school in Toronto and my first two degrees in Ottawa, doctorate in Montreal. Worked a lot in between. I promised myself a trip to Vancouver at every graduation but never made it :( I'd love to visit Newfoundland! I still keep in touch with childhood friends in NS.
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Wow, an excellent academic accumen. My father was a professor and University of British Columbia when we lived there.

If I may ask what brought you to the States?
 
cawacko said:
Wow, an excellent academic accumen. My father was a professor and University of British Columbia when we lived there.

If I may ask what brought you to the States?
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My mentor, who was American, took a faculty position in the US just as I was finishing up. I went with him to help him set up his new lab, train his new students, and finish my writing. I was offered a postdoc position at NIH and would have been out of my mind not to accept it. I was prepared to return to a faculty position in Canada when I met my husband at a professional conference.
 
Thorn said:
My mentor, who was American, took a faculty position in the US just as I was finishing up. I went with him to help him set up his new lab, train his new students, and finish my writing. I was offered a postdoc position at NIH and would have been out of my mind not to accept it. I was prepared to return to a faculty position in Canada when I met my husband at a professional conference.
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That's a great story. Any thoughts of returning now or are you pretty much settled here?
 
cawacko said:
That's a great story. Any thoughts of returning now or are you pretty much settled here?
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I've been here for several years now, have a green card and an American husband who hates snow and winter sports (as a participant). I'll be a citizen in time to vote in the next Presidential election. :) My life is here now.

PS. UBC is one of the three top universities in Canada -- really great school.
 
The idea that the government should even consider policing political speech of candidates is frightening. It is bad enough that we are limiting the speech of non candidates. You either trust democracy or you don't.
 
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