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Analysis: At debate, McCain attacks don't rattle Obama

BY TOM BRUNE | tom.brune@newsday.com

October 8, 2008

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The blow after blow that John McCain rained down on Barack Obama in last night's debate - an attack in nearly every answer he gave - failed to shake a cool, collected Obama or to create a breakthrough for a campaign that has found itself falling behind.

By nearly all accounts, McCain needed a knockout punch in this second debate to offset the grim financial news that has chased many voters to his rival in the belief a Democrat would know how to handle an ailing economy.

But try as he might, McCain came up short.

As expected, the candidates fielded mostly questions about the economy, health care and taxes from the 80 uncommitted voters and Internet posters.

But neither McCain nor Obama seemed to be able to shake the other as they tried to personalize their answers, whether trying to make Washington's $700-billion Wall Street bailout understandable or attempting to persuade them the blame rested on the other for the subprime mortgage crash that fuels the current credit crisis.

Even the town hall format that was supposed to give McCain the advantage seemed to work against him, restraining him as he strode across the red carpet as he sought to reach the 80 uncommitted voters in the arena.

At times McCain looked old - a contrast to the younger Obama who even complained about being called "green behind the ears." McCain did himself no favors by talking about the past and citing as reference figures from a different era - Teddy Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, Tip O'Neill.

Obama never flinched. Instead, as he did in the first debate, the Democratic candidate calmly stuck to his talking points and spoke up to correct McCain on his attacks on his stands and views.

The economy

Responding to the intense interest in the economy, McCain and Obama reverted to form, taking their Republican and Democratic approaches to the people - McCain for overall tax cuts for everyone, including the rich, as Obama pointed out. And Obama sought to allow taxes to rise on the rich by letting the Bush tax cuts end, while keeping taxes down for those under $250,000.

"Well, you know, nailing down Sen. Obama's various tax proposals is like nailing Jell-O to a wall," McCain said. "But he wants to raise taxes."

Neither seemed to convert anyone with his arguments.

Demeanor

As he did in the first debate, Obama came off as more respectful to McCain than McCain did to Obama.

While McCain sought to make eye contact with Obama at times - he never did in the first debate - more often than not, McCain looked down or even turned his back as Obama spoke, even when Obama confronted him.

In contrast, Obama always paid attention to McCain, even when McCain delivered some of his toughest lines, though at times the Illinois senator looked bemused as he gazed on as McCain talked.

McCain for the most part avoided the harsh personal attacks his ads and running mate have being making about Obama's patriotism and past associates. But at one point McCain referred to Obama as "that one."

The clash

In a debate dominated by the economy, one of the biggest clashes came over a question about chasing down Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. It was the one question on which the candidates suspended the debate's rules to confront each other.

Obama said he'd order troops into Pakistan. "We will kill bin Laden. We will crush al-Qaida," he said.

McCain shot back, "You know, my hero is a guy named Teddy Roosevelt. ... Teddy Roosevelt used to say ... talk softly but carry a big stick. Senator Obama likes to talk loudly. In fact, he said he wants to announce that he's going to attack Pakistan. Remarkable."

Obama retorted, "Now, Senator McCain suggests that somehow, you know, I'm green behind the ears and, you know ... just spoutin' off and he's somber and responsible. Senator McCain, this is the guy who sang 'Bomb, bomb, bomb Iran'; who called for the annihilation of North Korea. That, I don't think, is an example of speaking softly. This is the person who, after we had - we hadn't even finished Afghanistan, where he said, next up, Baghdad."

McCain responded, "I'll get Osama bin Laden, my friends. ... But I'm not going to telegraph my punches, which is what Senator Obama did."

ANALYSIS