James Fallows in New 'Atlantic': Obama, in Debates, Has to Treat McCain Like Alan Keyes!

The Atlantic article revealing Clinton campaign emails is drawing all the attention but there is another fascinating politics piece in the same September issue, not yet online the last time I looked.

It's by longtime contributor James Fallows and it reveals his thoughts after doing what no sane person would do (as he admits): viewing every single GOP and Democratic primary debate.

The lengthy take reviews past Obama and McCain performances with an eye to predicting what will happen this fall. And it closes with an assessment of what a President Obama would be like as he puts "just words" into action.

Perhaps most pertinent for now is Fallows' view of the coming showdowns this autumn.

He observes that Obama was surprisingly tentative in most of his debates so far, which is why he did not easily triumph over Hillary Clinton. He was much more relaxed and effective in taking on his 2004 opponent in the U.S. Senate race, Alan Keyes.

Fallows predicts, however, that McCain will truly look old and "is not a good debater, not even by comparison with George W. Bush" so he "will play the expectations game as hard as he can, knowing that's how the press will keep score." And: "Once he gets on the stage, McCain will try to remind Obama of Hillary Clinton -- that is, of someone he must take seriously, someone who is willing to challenge him and even insult him to his face." Here's the key:

Obama "is vain about his idealism and 'nobility,'" a staff member for one of Obama's Democratic opponents (not Clinton) told me on the phone. "He is thin-skinned about having his motives and competence questioned, so that's what you do." Grizzled pols like Hillary Clinton or her husband would laugh off such an attempt; Obama may still be innocent enough to be shaken by it. McCain made many dismissive references to Obama after Obama became the presumptive nominee. The easy next step is to do so while looking at him.

For Obama the key is: look at John McCain, and see Alan Keyes.

Greg Mitchell's new book is So Wrong for So Long: How the Press, the Pundits -- and the President -- Failed on Iraq. He is editor of Editor & Publisher.

Comments

[DieHardObamaSupporter]

The first hurdle is ensuring the debate is fair and balance, and nothing like that one sided clintonian debate from ABC.

Which brings me to the question, with all of the media bias against O, why is he still leading in the polls? This man is fighting against the storm uphill and still leading. Imagine if fair and balance was more reality than bs, how far would his lead be.

[Mikecoatl]

Keep in mind that, for the most part, Obama kept his own against Hillary Clinton - a far more intelligent, capable and articulate political figure than McSame can ever hope to be...

[larry278]

Alan Keyes may be a most articulate master of rhetoric but he doesn't pick up the votes to win elective office. Maybe centerist voters see Alan Keyes as an effete, elitist. Wearing a feathered cap could also harm Alan Keyes when he's seeking votes. Yes, I'm aware that some consider that BHO is a self important, elitetist, intellectual. JSMcC appears to be poor speaker who forgets the names & locations of countries or doesn't know that some of these countries no longer exist.

[gentilhombre]

Acute observation and thoughtful advice.

B.Obama should be prepared by his team to repel attacks and toughen those soft spots.

Attack and smile back Barack but do not make McC look like a victim.

[realpolitic]

Yes, very good advice. Keyes was never a serious candidate. As skilled as Obama is, he does at times seem thin-skinned. Obama should realize he represents the futue and McCain and Republican policies the past.

[meanguy]

obama's bound to do better than he did during his last debate with hillary, which is WHY it was the last debate...

[TexasDem0]

Alan Keyes is an articulate and highly skilled rhetorician with more than one feather in his cap. No one would confuse the debating skills of Johnny one note and Alan Keyes.