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Pundits Rate Near-Tie Debate

Obama likely comes out ahead by not losing

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 27, 2008 11:02 AM CDT
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(Newser) – One consensus is emerging about last night’s debate: It was close. Here’s how the pundits are calling the squeaker:

  • “Barack Obama was running for prime minister” last night, while McCain was running for president, writes David Ignatius in the Washington Post. But neither was compelling, and neither responded well to the economic crisis.
  • Fred Barnes of the Weekly Standard gives the win to McCain, “But the debate produced no knockout sound bites,” he writes, and so won’t change the race.

  • In a debate about tactics and strategies, Obama acted strategically, sticking to big issues and “an overall vision for the country,” writes Joe Klein of Time, while McCain fought tactically, trying to pick fights over details and “personal obsessions” like earmarks.
  • We’ll remember this debate alongside Kennedy-Nixon, Reagan-Carter, and Clinton-Bush, writes James Fallow of the Atlantic Monthly. In each case a fresh, inexperienced candidate didn’t exactly win, but proved himself a plausible president. 

Presidential debate moderator Jim Lehrer poses a question to Barack Obama and John McCain during the presidential debate Friday, Sept. 26, 2008 at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Miss.
Presidential debate moderator Jim Lehrer poses a question to Barack Obama and John McCain during the presidential debate Friday, Sept. 26, 2008 at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Miss.   (AP Photo/Chip Somodevilla, Pool)
Barack Obama and John McCain shake hands with moderator Jim Lehrer after the presidential debate Friday, Sept. 26, 2008 at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Miss.
Barack Obama and John McCain shake hands with moderator Jim Lehrer after the presidential debate Friday, Sept. 26, 2008 at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Miss.   (AP Photo/Chip Somodevilla, Pool)
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The debate reinforced each man’s strengths and weaknesses. Obama had the most to lose, and he didn’t, so in that sense, he probably came out ahead. - David Ignatius

Winning isn't enough. To gain from a presidential debate, there must be sound bites that appear on TV day after day and show your opponent in an unfavorable or embarrassing light. - Fred Barnes

Ultimately, sadly, these debates are won, or lost, on style and perceptions of character—not substance. Those are matters of taste. - Joe Klein

The question was whether the challenger could stand as an equal with the more experienced, tested, and familiar figure. - James Fallow

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Barack Obama • John McCain • presidential debate • Election 2008 • Jim Lehrer

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