We all watched last night’s debates, and it was both a clash of titans and a last ditch effort by both Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain to show America what they are made of. How they did depends largely on what you were looking for. McCain came out swinging: less robotic, more passionate and feisty. Obama came across as more of a teacher schooling a class. It’s rare when you can say that a Black man comes across as too intellectual, but many of the pundits are spinning his appearance that way.

I think the best thing about the debates is that they’ve been great indicators of how these people deal with stress and confrontation. If you like cool and laid back, then you probably scored for Obama (as did most polls which say 53 percent of viewers gave the debate to Obama). They feel it was a win for Obama as he has fought the steadier battle: his punches have connected more accurately and scored more points with voters than McCain’s.

However, if you like someone who deals with confrontation with a bit more hardcore aggression, you may have scored for McCain who is getting props from his base for finally getting in the mix and putting his credentials on the table to be scrutinized. They also liked that he faced off with Obama on William Ayers and pinning down on some specifics of his tax plan. This is what his supporters have been waiting for and word on the streets is that McCain’s base is more energized than ever. Of course, it’s about a day late by and a dollar short, but, as they say with all things, it ain’t over ’till it’s over, and the last ballot has been counted.

What do you think? Who won the debates last night, and overall?  Tell us here.

Images courtesy of dailyrepublic.com.
 
(*The views contained herein are solely the views of their respective authors, and do not express the views of TV One.  TV One does not take responsibility for their content.)

Looks like Obama is finally taking my advice.

At last night’s debates, we saw Sen. Barack Obama step into the arena with a game plan: less defense, more offense. He didn’t take the time he normally takes to defend himself and instead spent more time attacking the politics of Sen. John McCain which, if you recall, is a strategy I’ve been saying he should have taken from the beginning. It’s too easy and it looks silly standing toe-to-toe trading punches, and Obama showed he was going for a knockout punch last night. Did he get it?  According to a CNN poll, 54 percent of folks are riding with Obama.

Obama simply came across as more focused on issues, more loose—he didn’t refer to his notes as much. And he was about the business of educating people. In this special townhall format of debating, he engaged people in a personal way that didn’t come across as condescending. McCain was forceful but seemed unsteady. He relied on his notes a lot. But he had a better grasp on national defense issues than Obama and is clearly dedicated to taking America’s foes to the mat, if need be. He was able to get a hit on Obama on every point, but this debate was not the game-changer he needed it to be.

They both lose points for not sticking to the format: they were only supposed to get a one minute to respond and banter but ended up taking as much time as they wanted leaving moderator Tom Browkaw looking powerless to stop them. I want to see the candidates play by the rules and color in the lines, which takes more skill and focus than going off on five minute rants. That kind of economy of thought would show me, as voter, that they got their minds right. McCain is really going to have to go hard or go home in the next debate. That’s my two cents but what do you think?

Who won the debates last night?  Tell us here.Images courtesy of huffingtonpost.com.
 
(*The views contained herein are solely the views of their respective authors, and do not express the views of TV One.  TV One does not take responsibility for their content.)