The Final Debate Thread

[florige]

The whole exchange talking about Bill Ayers and the "negativity" of the two campaigns is where he lost it.

Obama was playing to undecideds tonight, McCain was playing to his base. That's why Obama won, and why right-wingers like whottt think McCain won. Obama was talking to people that haven't made up their minds, McCain was talking to whottt.

[florige]

[QUOTE=SpursFanFirst;2830141]I disagree.

Last night, CBS had a varied panel of voters on. I didn't watch CBS last time, but apparently, this was the same group from before - all undecided voters.
After this debate, they were asked if their questions were cleared up and whether they were leaning one way or the other...most said they were now leaning heavily toward McCain.

I have a feeling a lot of undecideds felt that way after last night's debate.[/QUOTE]



Manny do you have the stats for this yet?

[JoeChalupa]

I saw the Fox groups and they were split pretty evenly.

[Findog]

I disagree.

Last night, CBS had a varied panel of voters on. I didn't watch CBS last time, but apparently, this was the same group from before - all undecided voters.
After this debate, they were asked if their questions were cleared up and whether they were leaning one way or the other...most said they were now leaning heavily toward McCain.

I have a feeling a lot of undecideds felt that way after last night's debate.

Well, you would be wrong:

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/15/debate.poll/

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/10...y4525171.shtml

http://mediacurves.com/Images/pres3-results.jpg

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-...,2032573.story

http://www.democracycorps.com/focus/...ential-debate/

[Findog]

CBS undecideds: Obama 53, McCain 22
CNN viewers: Obama 58, McCain 31
CNN independents: Obama 57, McCain 31
MediaCurves independents: Obama 60, McCain 30
SurveyUSA Californians: Obama 56, McCain 28

[mountainballer]

Was John McCain on drugs tonight?

this picture is all over European newspapers today.
(McCain just swallowed up his choppers or what)

[ratm1221]

CBS undecideds: Obama 53, McCain 22
CNN viewers: Obama 58, McCain 31
CNN independents: Obama 57, McCain 31
MediaCurves independents: Obama 60, McCain 30
SurveyUSA Californians: Obama 56, McCain 28

Where's the dude that said he was going to eat some crow?

[ElNono]

You Betcha making a comment about the debate:

Also Thursday, McCain's running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, sounded a note of triumph about Wednesday's presidential debate while campaigning in Bangor, Maine.

"They [Obama and Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden] look to the past because they'd rather run against the current administration, it sounds like, and that strategy though, thankfully, it's really starting to wear very very thin," Palin said. "As John McCain reminded Barack Obama last night, if he wanted to run against George Bush, he had his chance four years ago. This year, the name on the ballot is John McCain -- and America knows that John McCain is his own man, he is the maverick."

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It's really mindboggling how McCain could pick her for VP. That right there tells me what kind of a decision maker that guy is.

[Findog]

I fully get this analogy, and agree with it fundamentally. But I refuse to believe any candidate other than Obama with only a 4-5 point lead would have sat there and taken another candidate pointing at him and all but saying he's supporting terrorists.
Hillary would have ripped that guys balls off, and rallied her party into a frenzy at the same time.

It's not Obama's fault he has to avoid coming across as the "Angry Black Man." That is our collective fault that he doesn't have the same rhetorical devices available to him.

[SpursFanFirst]

Well, you would be wrong:

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/15/debate.poll/

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/10...y4525171.shtml

http://mediacurves.com/Images/pres3-results.jpg

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-...,2032573.story

http://www.democracycorps.com/focus/...ential-debate/

I don't have the time to go through all those, but I'll say this...
Just because polls are showing things one way doesn't mean that's how it'll show once people actually vote.

[Findog]

I don't have the time to go through all those, but I'll say this...
Just because polls are showing things one way doesn't mean that's how it'll show once people actually vote.

We'll see if Obama's lead in the national tracking polls holds up. Sounds a lot like Kerry voters from four years ago: "Only poll that counts is on November 4th."

[Cry Havoc]

According to realclearpolitics.net, Obama's lead has dwindled slightly to 6.9 Could be a fluctuation or a reaction to last night's debate. Either way I think most people here knew this race would tighten a bit. How much it tightens is the question.

The one thing McCain did last night is that he probably got a lot of people in his own party excited. Not sure how his strategy fared with independents, but at this point McCain has so entrenched himself in his own position that I think the best chance for him is to win over those who are torn between voting red or not voting at all.

[JoeChalupa]

This is still Palin/McCaine's election to lose and they were never the underdogs. I still think Obama has a hill to climb amongst undecided and obamacans.

[Findog]

The statistical models predict a slight tightening of the race.

[JoeChalupa]

It will get tighter. This isn't over by a long shot.

[YouTube]

[SpursFanFirst]

We'll see if Obama's lead in the national tracking polls holds up. Sounds a lot like Kerry voters from four years ago: "Only poll that counts is on November 4th."

well, I don't know if I can trust the polling this time around, especially with all this ACORN stuff.

[ChumpDumper]

ACORN is making fraudulent polls now!

They're everywhere!

[SpursFanFirst]

The one thing McCain did last night is that he probably got a lot of people in his own party excited. Not sure how his strategy fared with independents, but at this point McCain has so entrenched himself in his own position that I think the best chance for him is to win over those who are torn between voting red or not voting at all.

I've said all along that I'd vote for McCain, but I've never been overly enthusiastic about him.
Prior to the debate last night, I was leaning toward not voting.
After the debate, I felt a little better about McCain...he finally showed some spunk out there.

[Findog]

well, I don't know if I can trust the polling this time around, especially with all this ACORN stuff.

How is ACORN affecting what people tell pollsters?

[01.20.09]

I've said all along that I'd vote for McCain, but I've never been overly enthusiastic about him.
Prior to the debate last night, I was leaning toward not voting.
After the debate, I felt a little better about McCain...he finally showed some spunk out there.

Just stay home.

[SpursFanFirst]

ACORN is making fraudulent polls now!

They're everywhere!

I didn't say that ACORN is making fraudulent polls, but way to stay true to yourself, CD...putting words in my mouth.

I'm simply saying that with the ACORN stuff, Bradley effect, etc...I just think it's possible people aren't either, telling the whole truth about who they're voting for in those polls...or perhaps they'll change their minds by election day.

[SpursFanFirst]

Just stay home.

Why is that? Are you hoping for one less McCain vote?

[Findog]

I didn't say that ACORN is making fraudulent polls, but way to stay true to yourself, CD...putting words in my mouth.

I'm simply saying that with the ACORN stuff, Bradley effect, etc...I just think it's possible people aren't either, telling the whole truth about who they're voting for in those polls...or perhaps they'll change their minds by election day.

ACORN has nothing to do will polling. Also, the Bradley Effect hasn't manifested itself since the late eighties:

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/searc...adley%20effect

[ChumpDumper]

I didn't say that ACORN is making fraudulent polls, but way to stay true to yourself, CD...putting words in my mouth.

I'm simply saying that with the ACORN stuff, Bradley effect, etc...I just think it's possible people aren't either, telling the whole truth about who they're voting for in those polls...or perhaps they'll change their minds by election day.

Please explain how you think the ACORN stuff affects people's truthfulness in responding to polls.