Presidential Debate #3: 9 PM ET, 10/15/08

[JXC]

Great assessment. I agree.

[billmac91]

Originally Posted by MuckFich06

Why I think McCain loses these debates...

1. Body language.

2. McCain attacks Obama. Obama refutes attack. McCain repeats attack. (move on)

3. McCain plays to his base. Obama plays more to undecided voters.

Agree with most of this. I think McCain would be much closer in the polls if he were a stronger debater. As stated before, he just does not get his points accross well. Obama has left a lot of hanging curve balls out there to be smashed, and McCain turns them into awkward moments (weird laughs, staying on a topic too long, already winning on a point and hammering it to death until he loses its effectiveness).

For a truly undecided voter, the debates clearly favor Obama. I think most people will always want to follow the most elogant, well spoken, natural person.

I think McCain's policies make a lot more sense, but he hasn't told people why very effectively. I thnk he did his best job tonight, but he gave it all away with the rest of the debate.

[jimotis4heisman]

i wonder what impact the post debate "news speak" has on the winner/loser. how much influence a couple of networks with 10 or so each "undecided" voters form our perception...

[billmac91]

I don't know why McCain and his handlers don't come up with the average income of an American, break down what Obama's tax relief program means in savings to them, and then describe why it is a dangerous plan (in their eyes).

I know Obama throws around Warren Buffet all the time, but there are many economists who feel Obama's plan will lead to job cuts.

I'll still take any Berkshire Hathaway shares somebody wants to give away.....

[CookyPuss]

Originally Posted by billmac91

I don't know why McCain and his handlers don't come up with the average income of an American, break down what Obama's tax relief program means in savings to them, and then describe why it is a dangerous plan (in their eyes).

Because Obama's plan gives a bigger cut to the "average" American.

[billmac91]

Originally Posted by jimotis4heisman

i wonder what impact the post debate "news speak" has on the winner/loser. how much influence a couple of networks with 10 or so each "undecided" voters form our perception...

That was somewhat my point with sandgk...I think they do make a difference, and a left wing news channel (all of them but Fox) aren't going to load their rooms with people who lean right. Even though many of the rooms claim to be leaning right.....

I just don't trust it.

[jimotis4heisman]

Originally Posted by billmac91

That was somewhat my point with sandgk...I think they do make a difference, and a left wing news channel (all of them but Fox) aren't going to load their rooms with people who lean right. Even though many of the rooms claim to be leaning right.....

I just don't trust it.

true and who decides who is "undecided" do you think a liberal or a conservative got on there not being truthful?

[CookyPuss]

Final thoughts on this one: no major changes in the polls. 3 debates by McCain... times he mentioned the "middle class" = 0.

[billmac91]

Originally Posted by MuckFich06

Because Obama's plan gives a bigger cut to the "average" American.

Right. But in McCain's eyes, what does a bigger tax cut mean to a family that just had the bread-winner laid off b/c the company he works for needs to make up for the capital gains tax increases?

That's what McCain needs to hammer home and he hasn't. He assumes people know what he is talking about when he says Obama is going to raise taxes overall.

[sandgk]

Originally Posted by billmac91

That was somewhat my point with sandgk...I think they do make a difference, and a left wing news channel (all of them but Fox) aren't going to load their rooms with people who lean right. Even though many of the rooms claim to be leaning right.....

I just don't trust it.

Well - I'd say there is one thoroughly right wing channel (FOX), one left wing channel (MSNBC) and then a bunch of channels that are very centrist, but largely conservative.

Different from Fox - different from MSNBC - but not left leaning, not by any means.

[jimotis4heisman]

Originally Posted by MuckFich06

Final thoughts on this one: no major changes in the polls. 3 debates by McCain... times he mentioned the "middle class" = 0.

thats false.

ive put the word things in every debate. ill do it tomorrow again.

[CookyPuss]

Originally Posted by billmac91

Right. But in McCain's eyes, what does a bigger tax cut mean to a family that just had the bread-winner laid off b/c the company he works for needs to make up for the capital gains tax increases?

That's what McCain needs to hammer home and he hasn't. He assumes people know what he is talking about when he says Obama is going to raise taxes overall.

Obama exempts small businesses from the capital gains increase.

[CookyPuss]

Bill, I should mention that I actually don't like Obama's tax plan. I think he should let the Bush cuts for the most wealthy expire as planned and otherwise not tinker much other than simplifying the tax code. Taxes aren't too high for the "average" worker, salary is too low. Personally, I hope his plan is more campaign rhetoric than actual policy proposal.

[billmac91]

Originally Posted by MuckFich06

Obama exempts small businesses from the capital gains increase.

What about Ford, GM, GE, Black & Decker, Home Depot, Lowes, IBM, Microsoft, Fifth Third, Wacchovia, etc, etc.

95-98% of businesses make less than $250,000 but how much of the workforce do they employ?

[DaytonBuck]

Originally Posted by MuckFich06

Because Obama's plan gives a bigger cut to the "average" American.

How can you give a tax cut to people that don't pay any income tax?