Even Debate on McCain's Home Turf

Even debate at McCain’s home turf

The first polls crown Obama the winner.

The first presidential debate was even, but McCain had to win while Obama would be happy with a draw. And he managed just that. The first polls even crown Obama the winner.

Last night’s duel between John McCain and Barack Obama was anticipated with great interest. Tens of millions of people watched the debate, and 3000 journalists had come to relay their impression of this historic meeting between the Republican veteran and his African American rival.

Two different personalities

It was a clean and businesslike debate – without any big surprises. The debate lacked that key moment that would be remembered in American election history. No mistakes or amusing moments that will be told to the next generation of Americans.

Instead this was a debate that made the different positions on foreign policy apparent, and that showed two different personalities.

Foreign policy was supposed to be the subject of the debate, but the financial crisis the United States are experiencing made Jim Lehrer spend the first 44 minutes – almost half the time – to talk about economics.

This is seen as Obama’s home turf, and he did his best to stick John McCain to the Bush Administration’s policies in this area. On his part, McCain suggested that the United States freeze government spending, but neither of them put forward new or significant proposals to solve the crisis.

Compromise

Both are strongly involved in the work to find a compromise that both Republicans and Democrats can live with.

And so it is not easy to showcase your own plans that also have to fit a two-minute presentation in a live presidential debate.

The partial change of subject suited Obama better than McCain. In many polls Obama is clearly ahead of McCain when it comes to the voters’ trust in matters of economics and health care. McCain is almost equally ahead in the question of fighting terrorism and Iraq.

But this fall it’s the economy that matters. Fifty-six percent of voters say that the economy is the top issue in this election, according to a fresh CNN poll. Just 10 percent say the same about Iraq. For the Obama campaign that must be a paradox.

It was just Obama’s resistance to the Iraq war that secured him the nomination with the Democrats. Now it is the economy that secures him the lead in the polls.

On the subject of foreign policy

During last night’s debate – the only with foreign policy as the main theme – John McCain tried to hammer home the message that Obama does not understand the difficult international problems.

With all the certainty experience can give, McCain named leaders he had met, and countries he had visited. Deliberately and unconsciously John McCain played the statesman that does not need on the job training in the White House, while Barack Obama tried to portray himself as the man of the future in contrast to what has been.

Behind this game of acting presidential, the first debate showed clear differences between the candidates’ foreign policy.

Where McCain is talking about a tough and uncompromising line, Obama praises the value of negotiation and diplomacy. In many ways McCain looks like George W. Bush during his first period. That may not seem convincing to the many Americans who are sick and tired of Bush.

Disturbing for McCain

The first polls after the debate show that the majority thought Obama won the debate – also when Iraq was the subject. That is disturbing news for McCain, even if there is a lot of uncertainty with polls like this. They still probably catch a certain mood.

Obama had one of his best debate moments when he had the opportunity to look like the man of vision, while McCain is more happy in the role as the experienced political worker who has seen and experienced a lot.

Because a debate is about appearance, it is a personality test with millions of voters as judges. It is about making the voters visualize the coming president – not to mention the future commander in chief.

Obama did best

A CNN poll right after the debate showed 51 percent felt Obama was best; 38 percent said McCain. Whether such numbers will be sustained through more extensive polling is another question.

What is certain is that the first of the three presidential debates has great meaning for the election in November. Not just because it traditionally is seen by the most viewers, but also because it sets the tone for the rest of the campaign, both with people and within the two campaigns.

“John McCain has had a rough week, this has to be his night,” said Republican analyst Ed Rollins before the debate. There is reason to doubt just that. Rather, Obama can be satisfied that he fought evenly with the 72-year-old veteran senator.

But the election is still a long way away – and a lot of things can happen to change that picture.