Post Debate Analysis

Minneapolis, Minnesota

After the first debate one thing is clear, both Candidates will be prepared and neither is perfect. In what marked the first of three highly anticipated debates Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama both found themselves on the defensive for their records, experience and judgement.

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For much of the first part of the debate, which was focused on the economy and the looming financial crisis, it was John McCain who was on the defensive. Obama may have missed several opportunities to highlight Senator McCain's role in the current economic crisis as he was one of the biggest deregulators of the past 20 years.

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For John McCain, things became markedly better when the subject of the War in Iraq came up. John McCain talked about the surge and the fact that Sen. Obama did not support it or think it would work and was reluctant afterwards to admit it had worked.

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Foreign policy was another subject that John McCain seemed more comfortable with, but did not score a clear victory on. Obama was able to deftly deflect McCain's attack on his voting record when it came to funding the Troops. Obama pointed out the both he and McCain had voted against funding when the funding was tied to a timeline for withdrawal.

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McCain made a reference to a bracelet he'd been given by the Mother of a fallen soldier and told the story. Obama stated he to had a bracelet with a similar story, but he stumbled on the soldiers name and needed to look at the bracelet to remember it.

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One thing stood out glaringly for most people who watched the debate and that was McCain's lack of eye contact with Obama. Perhaps it is just John McCain's debate style not to look his opponent in the eye, but where I was standing it seemed more like a lack of respect issue. As if McCain, the saavy political veteran, was irritated by the upstart and inexperienced understudy. I think this made McCain look somewhat aloof.

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Before the debate there was considerable talk about Obama's inability to speak without a teleprompter, I think we can put that one to bed now. And while John McCain may be too old for some, he still had a lot of fire for the issues.

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Overall, I think both men missed opportunities to put the other on the ropes and when given the chance felt that discretion was the better part of valor. They were like two heavyweights locked in battle, but reluctant to take a big swing, worried it might miss and leave them open for a big counter. They spent most of the night feeling eachother out and studying the others style. The debate for me was mostly even with a slight edge to Obama who was both deferential and Presidential in his demeanor.