Cool Trumps Hot
So did you watch the debate last night?
If not, I understand. This election has been going on forever. Even I found myself getting distracted while John McCain and Barack Obama were having at it.
The race seemed so close a mere four weeks ago. These debates were among the most anticipated in history. The pressure was on both candidates to define themselves for the dwindling number of voters who were still undecided and, perhaps more importantly, casting doubts in their minds about their opponent.
Conventional wisdom says that the more concerned people are about the economy, the better off Obama is. But that only seems to scratch the surface. McCain has appeared so erratic since the economic crisis blew up that he almost seems intent on convincing voters to support Obama.
You’ve heard the litany. First he said the fundamentals of the economy were fine, then he called for President Bush to fire Security and Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox, then he suspended his campaign, then he was back on the trail.
It’s been exhausting to watch. McCain has effectively ceded the argument about which candidate is more stable and calm under pressure. And, what do you know?, McCain threw out another seemingly half-baked idea last night suggesting that he would instruct the Treasury Secretary to buy out the mortgages of every home in the nation that had been foreclosed.
Obama’s response that the rescue package already gave the Treasury Secretary that authority seemed to let the air out of McCain’s trial balloon. McCain appeared to spend much of the debate wandering around the stage. By itself, age should not be a factor but McCain’s choppy answers and his surliness emphasize the contrast between the two candidates.
McCain is dangerously close to appearing cartoonish. Am I the only one who was reminded last night of Howard Beale, the hysterical aging news anchor from the movie, Network? Here was a man who seemed lost in time. He wants to inherit the mantle of Ronald Reagan but last night McCain reminded me more of Abraham Simpson.
Barack Obama’s performance was also somewhat disappointing. He seemed insistent on tamping down his normally inspirational language. A couple of the questions appeared to give him ideal opportunities to wax philosophical on the challenges facing the nation. Yet he returned to the same themes and principles of the failed Bush years and McCain’s links to the current president.
In contrast with McCain, Obama almost seemed too cool. He chose his words carefully and remained calm. While his supporters may have wished he be more aggressive, I have to believe this was intentional and that undecided viewers will react favorably to his demeanor.
McCain and Obama’s performances last night brought to mind the work of Marshall McLuhan who pioneered the study of media. Television, he suggested, is a “cool” medium, requiring less involvement by viewers than “hot” media such as print and radio.
Lots can happen in the remaining four weeks so this ain’t over yet. It is especially important for Obama supporters to not get overconfident. They must continue to press Obama’s case with the public and make sure to turn out huge numbers of voters on Election Day.
McCain and his running mate, Sarah Palin, return to the campaign trail today and may continue to harp on the so-called character issues by raising questions about Obama’s connections with former radical Bill Ayers and his former pastor Jeremiah Wright. To his credit, McCain didn’t go there last night suggesting he’s not comfortable with that line of attack (or he recognized that it wouldn’t work in the town hall-style format).
Time will tell what surprises still lie ahead. But on style and substance you gotta say Obama won last night on points.
