2008 Primaries, Leadership, Messaging, Speeches, Strategic Blueprints • September 26th, 2008

Debate time

by Chris Lato

After some questions, tonight’s first presidential debate is indeed on. The spin machines for both sides will be churning away. Your best bet is to watch and decide for yourself who ‘wins’ and why.

National security and foreign policy are the top issues tonight, and those are considered the GOP’s domain - so many are expecting that John McCain will prevail tonight. However, the economy will surely come into play, and it will be interesting to see whether McCain will face criticism for his perceived politicizing of the crisis this week by suspending his campaign and suggesting that this debate be called off.

For Barack Obama, the challenge is to convey an understanding of the issues that soothes voters questioning his relative lack of legislative experience. High-flying rhetoric can only carry him so far in these debates.

As for McCain, he will have to justify his support for an unpopular war and the perception that his foreign policy agenda will be a continuation of Bush 43. He will also have to show vitality to assuage the concerns of those who say he’s too old for the job.

Both will also end up discussing the economic crisis and will have to connect with middle-class voters who are jittery about the state of the nation and need assurance that the next president is up to the challenge.

Debates are important – it can take just a moment, a quip or a well-placed criticism or badly fumbled answer, to set a campaign on a whole different course. Think Nixon’s sweat and stubble, Bush 41 glancing at his watch, Al Gore’s sighs, etc. The race is close and the undecideds are still out there. This may be the chance for one candidate to get those undecideds breaking his way.

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