Ringside

There was a moment, when the debate ended and the wives came up on stage, where I actually knew, or thought I knew, who had won. I'm sorry to say it, but it was John McCain. McCain had come into the debate having spent the week as the King of the Loose Screws, but he got through the night without a sign of his irrational behavior, and that seemed like a big win for him.

I was, by the way, the least pessimistic person in the room where we watched the debate, a room full of blue-state pinkos, and our hearts had collectively sunk as we watched Obama miss opportunity after opportunity to score a knockout punch -- as the men in the room tended to put it. (Women are at a decided disadvantage in conversations of this sort: we have no interest whatsoever in the resemblance of presidential candidates to people like Rocky Marciano and Archie Moore.) Because everyone in the room was so depressed and simultaneously full of manly boxing references, I felt guilty even mentioning my concerns about Obama's shirt, which was too loose around his neck, and which was another reason why I thought he had lost the debate -- that, along with his incredibly irritating habit of closing his eyes while standing up.

Anyway, as I say, the impression that McCain had won lasted about a minute, when we began flipping through the stations expecting all our fears to be validated by the dozens of commentators ready to offer their views. To our amazement, the only overlap between our room and the pundits were the boxing references. Obama had won. Even the people who thought McCain had won more rounds than Obama thought Obama had won. McCain had been patronizing. He'd referred to Pakistan as a failed state, which turned out to be untrue. Even Charles Krauthammer thought Obama had done fine. A focus group of undecided voters in Nevada on the Fox Channel (Fox!) had responded more positively to Obama than to McCain.

Could this possibly be true? I don't know. But I decided to do the only thing I could under the circumstances: stop watching the pundits on television for fear it would all change again. They will be on all night discussing the heavyweight championship of the world, but I am going to sleep.

Read more reactions to the first presidential debate from HuffPost bloggers, including Bob Shrum, Madeleine Albright, Paul Reiser, Arianna Huffington, Sean Penn, Sheryl Crow, and more.

Comments

[Shieldmaiden]

I actually thought it was a tie on substance and that doesn't bode well for McCain. He has claimed over and over that Obama was not knowledgeable on foreign policy and Obama was not yet ready. Obama not only looked ready but he gave as good as he got. He looked McCain in the eye and told him how wrong he was on the war. He was the only person to even mention the middle class. McCain's job was to destroy Obama on his turf and he didn't. McCain didn't even have the guts to look Obama in they eye. He let the guy with less experience looks as ready as he and there was nothing McCain could do about it. When you demonize your opponent and paint them as weak and they are clearly the opposite of then you automatically lose. Anyone who thought McCain won is either one of the usual doom and gloom democrats or they were not watching the debate.

[EyesWideOpen]

As much as I like your films, Nora, I'm baffled as to how you could think that John McCain 'won' this debate.

Would you mind explaining in further detail why you got this impression, other than the fact that you felt Obama's collar was too loose and his closing his eyes while standing up irritated you?

Or was that all?

I didn't think about boxing for a second. I was listening to what each had to say and, among other things, noticing that John McCain seemed extremely uneasy, refused to look at Obama, and swore at him under his breath (watch the YouTube video if you missed this during the debate - I didn't) while just giving his standard stump speech about 'the surge' and being a POW for an extra year, as if either has anything to do with a seriousl understanding of US foreign and domestic policy.

You truly felt that he seemed more presidential to you that Barack Obama? Which presidents were you thinking of? Bush 43 and 41? Richard Nixon?

[pundit27]

Ditto. Nora, you're a brilliant humorist, but sorely lacking as a political analyst. It's not your personal pleasure that counts if you are a pundit, it's how you are able to overlay the performances on what you know about undecided or soft voters. Most experienced politicos can do that (see Will, Brooks, pst-debate). But, please, keep us laughing; we need more of that from you than your analysis.

[bostongreen]

In defense of Nora, the average average clearly do view the debates as a sort of boxing match. You think the average voter who watches the debates understand half the things coming from the candidate's mouth? The average voter can barely eat their cereal and breathe at the same time.

[somedork]

Interesting commentary. I agree that the boxing references can start to become quite annoying. I heard some CNN guys talking about Obama's "I agree with John"s being the equivalent of a boxing clinch. Enough already, drop the metaphor! As I write here:

http://www.somedork.com/features/first-debate-analysis-a-narrow-obama-victory/
First Debate Analysis: A Narrow Obama Victory

I saw a narrow Obama win on the merits of the questions. However, in the eyes of the general public, this could be a bigger win. He faced off against his supposed better in foreign policy and held his own. That right there is enough to think this may be a turning point in this race.

[greyingbutchlesbian]

>

First of all, this 57th yr. old feminist lesbian who watches boxing hates when het women make generalizied statements like the above.

Secondly I think that Obama won; he got in his talking points and corrected McSame when he tried to lie about Obama's record.

Third I want to ask if anyone noticed the way that McCain's eyes were blinking a mile a minute...check out : http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/symptoms/eye_blinking_symptoms/causes.htm

[kburlz]

I don't get all the dem gloom and doom. Have you seen polls lately? Obama is shooting up. Things have never looked better. He's 3 in the gallup today to +8. He looked presidential last night and that was job #1. Mccain looked like he wanted Obama off his lawn. Obama sealed the deal last night.

[SunnyDay]

I don't know what came over you but there was no question that Obama did extremely well in the debate. I'm not sure there was a "winner" but McCain needed to do a lot better than he did. He seemed like an old grandpa lecturing some new upstart. A lot of the new voters don't know anything about all the old politicians he kept referring to. Obama seemed very presidential - or at least what a president should look like. He remained poised throughout and very well spoken and thoughtful. I thought it was one of Obama's better debate performances.

[rscott4079]

You know, I also watched the debate and I also felt that Sen. McCain had performed better. I felt that he was clear and articulate, possessed of a great breadth of foreign policy experience, and was well on the offensive all night - I thought his characterization of Sen. Obama as “dangerously naïve” was particularly effective. For Sen. Obama’s part I felt that he missed several opportunities to attack his opponent, seemed too willing to be on the defensive, and was too dispassionate.
That being the case, I also was surprised that the pundits, and apparently even several polls indicated that Sen. Obama had come out on top Friday night. I couldn’t figure it out. But it has since occurred to me - maybe what I’ve been seeing in Sen. Obama as a lack of passion, is coming across to the American public as cool and calm. Maybe Americans are tiring politicians who push the Panic Button on every issue and are looking for a leader that exemplifies personal restraint and reason. Maybe Americans are tired of the words “dangerous” and “crisis” being the lexicon of every day politics. Maybe they’re tired of politicians who carry a big stick, but can’t remember to speak softly.
Maybe Sen. Obama is a better candidate and campaigner than even some of his supporters have been giving him credit for.

[SusanFromTX]

Wow, I can't believe anyone thought McCain won. True, he didn't look like the doddering fool as he did on the birth control vs Viagra question a while back - I guess it's as others said, he benefits from low expectations.

I thought Obama did great - confident, presidential. HOWEVER, I am sure I agree with the guys about lost opportunities. With the bailout roiling the media and the masses, he should have relentlessly hit McCain with his career of supporting deregulation and his economic advisor, Phil Gramm (Mr. Enron among others)... he should have cornered McCain on "pre-conditions" - what specific pre-conditions for meeting with foreign leaders - you mean like Bush, where he says Iran has to quit their nuclear program before we'll talk to them? WTF??? Isn't that what we want to talk to them about??? Talk about a non-sequitur (sp?) He should have asked McCain exactly what victory looks like in Iraq - the Repubs talk about that constantly but no one EVER asks them exactly what it means....

Lots of lost opportunities - but Obama STILL won it, hands down....

[Passenger57]

Obama won on several levels:
- McCain didn't shut Obama down despite his three decades or more of foreign policy experience.
- McCain lost points for his grandstanding : "I'm going to suspend my campaign" - he didn't - and "I'm going to stay in DC until the deal is done" - it wasn't done by debate time and he showed up anyway.
- Obama didn't wilt and gave as good as he got on foreign policy.
- Obama appeared calm and collected ( as he did all week as the economic crisis was in full bloom) ,and McCain looked tense,irritable - and let's face it, OLD.
- Obama followed Lehrer's suggestion that they "talk to each other" - McCain didn't.
- Obama looked in all the right places : at Lehrer, at McCain - and most importantly,at the camera, i.e. "us".McCain either looked at Lehrer or elsewhere - but NOT at Obama or the camera.
- Obama's agreements with McCain,though seen as a weakness by many Obama supporters, actually was a strong point-some things he only agreed with because McCain was asked first,like reducing government spending. They may be battling one another,but they're on the same side - and McCain simply can't be wrong ALL the time.
- This is the first time they really were together in the same place where we could compare them - and Obama looked and acted more "presidential" .One uncommitted voter on CBS said that it reminded him of JFK/Nixon - with Obama

[dsmn]

Senator Obama is an honorable, diplomatic statesman. He doesn't need to stoop to McC's level. McC is all ready in the process of doing himself in.

[renatam]

Thank you.

[greeniefromOH]

Yes, I agree.

[FaceYourFears]

exactly

[twofish]

This reminds me of what was said about W before his "debates" (it's hard to honor these spectacles with that name). Expectations were set so low, that if he didn't drool on his shoes, he won. Did McCain drool on his shoes? Well, I guess he was the winner then, huh? I don't think so.

[Shiral]

Sorry, Nora. I disagree with you here. I'm glad, for partisan reasons, that Obama is perceived as the winner. My own perspective was that they broke about even, and both "lived to fight another day." Neither one of them either screwed up badly or scored a knockout blow. I do agree, I was hoping Obama WOULD do that, although both made good points. I did think Obama won in the courtesy and presidential behavior category. And I thought McCain's stretch-mouth humorless smirky smile was creepy. He seemed to me like aclown in a horror movie who turns out to be the brutal axe murderer.

I did like Obama's "I know you don't just invite them over for tea" line, and his "You're using an axe when you need a scalpel. And lastly, his masterful surgical strike about McCain's obvious stab at a maudlin, "tug at the heartstrings" story about the bracelet. "Yeah I've got one of those too. And what I'm hearing from military parents is that they want their kids to come home."

Obama needs to be shorter, and harder hitting and he DESPERATELY needs to stop saying "John is Right."

McCain needs to stop smirking, face Obama and needs to STOP repeating himself three times in a single five minute answer.

Jim Lehrer needs to stop letting McCain get the last word in in each segment of the debate.

[Kiabell04]

I respectfully disagree with this journalist. McCain lost....mainly because he seemed entitlted and spoiled.

[ckfan]

Nora Ephron is not a journalist . . . that's the problem here. She's a director, writer, etc. We respect her opinion, but my goodness did she get this wrong.

[njack]

I have to disagree with Nora on McCain not showing his surly self. I distinctly heard McCain say "horsesh@t" twice when Obama was talking specifically about the prime minister of
Spain. He never looked at Obama the entire evening.

[Barryson]

This is where McCain said "horsesh@t":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1rZBmk0DYU

[kburlz]

He 's saying : Of course not, of course not.

[kburlz]

"Barack Obama leads John McCain, 50% to 42% among registered voters (up from 5 yesterday) in the latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking update for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday -- just one point shy of his strongest showing of the year."

Once again, Obama is underestimated.

[Novelismo]

Thank you, Norah. You were quite right. McCain won this round quite handily. By appearing lucide, cogent and forceful in his arguments, he helped Obama seem inexperienced, naive, and weak. Not winning, for Obama, meant he lost the debate -- except in the eyes of people who think McCain is "reptilian." It's important to remember that McCain doesn't actually have to win the election -- him winning it just has to seem like a barely plausible story, until they get the computerized voting machines fixed. I mean -- repaired. They have been "fixed" several times already. It's important to keep in mind that Obama didn't beat Clinton -- Bill did.

But the main impression I took away from the debate was: One of these two dunderheads will be running the country? which I found a frightening thought, although, in either case, less frightening than the last eight years.

Let's just continue hoping that one of them will take office as our next president.

[RatgurlSD]

Yes, ONE of them. Preferrably NOT the one who wants to start another war.

[Snerdgronk]

"Noveli": McCain won this round quite handily. By appearing lucide,

Lucide, (Loo-side) Defn: A suicidal approach to facticity, a willingness to present a clearly false narrative no matter the consequences, a willingness to contradict one's self even if it mean a catastrophic end to one's credibility, to lie and pay the consequences and then lie about the consequences when you know it's ruining your credibility ...

Snerd

[Snerdgronk]

Noveli: One of these two dunderheads will be running the country? which I found a frightening thought, although, in either case, less frightening than the last eight years.

SG: Interesting ... after your assessment, I was reassured one of them wouldn't be you ...

Snerd