Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Debate #2 Analysis: Default and Fault

It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings. But I tell you what -- after seeing McCain decidedly not-light-up the country with his leadership, knowledge or stylistic abilities, I can audibly hear her inhaling.

I do not think Obama did great. But just being Obama seems to be good enough to win. In fact, I think Obama might have lost to George W. Bush and to Bill Clinton if he were debating either. But he's not. He's debating the "King of the Republican B-Team" -- the unlikely maverick who only really knows how to become a folksy hero by agitating people in power. Someone who has spent most of his life developing a maverick persona is not going to have the leadership skills people are looking for in an executive office.

As it turns out, Obama's relative disinterest in being a Senator has helped him forge himself as a leader vs. a legislator.

Obama won last night's debate by default. And it was McCain's fault.