Comments on: By the numbers: Obama wins first debate (updated) http://election.princeton.edu/2008/09/27/by-the-numbers-and-reactions-obama-wins-first-debate/ A first draft of electoral history Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:35:25 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: stephanie http://election.princeton.edu/2008/09/27/by-the-numbers-and-reactions-obama-wins-first-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-1240 stephanie Thu, 23 Oct 2008 05:21:33 +0000 http://election.princeton.edu/?p=1349#comment-1240 obamas the shit! obamas the shit!

]]> By: V. Vance http://election.princeton.edu/2008/09/27/by-the-numbers-and-reactions-obama-wins-first-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-658 V. Vance Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:32:49 +0000 http://election.princeton.edu/?p=1349#comment-658 I just thought McCain came across as very old - an old man, living in the past, and unable (or unwilling) to move with the times. I don't know why he wouldn't look at Obama, but it certainly didn't make him seem more likable. I just thought McCain came across as very old – an old man, living in the past, and unable (or unwilling) to move with the times. I don’t know why he wouldn’t look at Obama, but it certainly didn’t make him seem more likable.

]]> By: Observer http://election.princeton.edu/2008/09/27/by-the-numbers-and-reactions-obama-wins-first-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-609 Observer Sun, 28 Sep 2008 06:36:56 +0000 http://election.princeton.edu/?p=1349#comment-609 I thought that on the substance, the two were close in getting their points across. However, I did perceive Obama as doing much better on presentation: For a simple but strong difference, his pleasantly low voice is much easier to listen to than McCain's. It's interesting that so many people have said McCain showed contempt by not looking at Obama. I'm not sure that's what happened. I thought the revealing moment was when Lehrer asked Obama, early, on to address his comments more to McCain than Lehrer. McCain somewhat impishly responded, 'Did you think I wouldn't be able to hear him?' To me, this plus McCain's overall rigidity of physical presentation suggested that McCain's well known discomfort with formal speaking situations was at work. He was working very hard to stay focused, on message, and in control of himself. And in this light he paced himself quite well, amping up his performance as it got later. I thought this was very good for him, as it refuted an expectation that some had stated before the debate, that he would tire in the last 30 minutes. The price for McCain, though, as so often, was that he came across as tight all through the evening. I thought that on the substance, the two were close in getting their points across. However, I did perceive Obama as doing much better on presentation: For a simple but strong difference, his pleasantly low voice is much easier to listen to than McCain’s.

It’s interesting that so many people have said McCain showed contempt by not looking at Obama. I’m not sure that’s what happened. I thought the revealing moment was when Lehrer asked Obama, early, on to address his comments more to McCain than Lehrer. McCain somewhat impishly responded, ‘Did you think I wouldn’t be able to hear him?’ To me, this plus McCain’s overall rigidity of physical presentation suggested that McCain’s well known discomfort with formal speaking situations was at work. He was working very hard to stay focused, on message, and in control of himself. And in this light he paced himself quite well, amping up his performance as it got later. I thought this was very good for him, as it refuted an expectation that some had stated before the debate, that he would tire in the last 30 minutes. The price for McCain, though, as so often, was that he came across as tight all through the evening.

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