Advantage Obama

28 September 2008 |permalink | email article

If there was no clear ideological winner in Friday’s hybrid debate on the economy and foreign policy one impression remains: America is a watching a generational battle in which John McCain, 72, appears as more senatorial with Barack Obama, 47, more presidential.

In 1960 Richard Nixon ran on the slogan “Experience Counts” but voters decided after their first famous debate that a younger and more appealing John F. Kennedy was up to the job as commander in chief and represented a new generation of leadership.

The McCain-Obama contest again raises the issue of experience versus judgment in terms of who will lead the nation in 2009. While the past is gone and the future is ahead what matters in American politics now is what happens on Nov. 4.

McCain hammered Obama for being inexperience and naïve in a dangerous world while Obama argued that on Iraq and Afghanistan his judgment was superior to that of his opponent or the Bush administration.

While McCain threatened to skip the debate and remain in Washington because of the budget crisis, a stunt widely perceived, neither candidate broke new ground on the financial rescue package under negotiation.

It was impossible not to notice: a) McCain’s angry demeanor – the fact that he never looked once at his rival during the 90-minutes, and b) Obama’s continued failure to show genuine anger.

Network polls are revealing. CBS News found Obama ahead with 40% of uncommitted voters, giving him high marks on the economy and Iraq. CNN’s survey of uncommitted on six questions gave the nod to Obama, notably on being more in touch with the needs and problems of people like themselves, the economy and the current finncial crisis. The Fox group declared Obama the winner.

The perception grows that a quirky McCain is struggling as national polls show the race as either very competitive or Obama’s margin widening.

Democratic strategist Bob Shrum cited the late Tim Russert on the night of the North Carolina and Indiana primaries: “I think we now know who the Democratic nominee will be.” It’s hard to disagree with Shrum’s view that “tonight we know who the next President will be.”

Sidebar: After the debate Joe Biden was spinning everywhere, with Sarah Palin invisible as their Oct. 2 debate nears.

 

 

580