John McCain looks like a man who sold his soul. Watching him is almost as depressing as going back to Disneyland as an adult. It's like spotting Mickey Mouse taking a cigarette break. He's all dressed up in the costume of a president but the magic isn't there.
Obama on the other hand lit up the debate's live audience as soon as it was over. Even the people who looked planted as McCain supporters (like that row of bald white men???) strained to get closer as Obama made his way around the little bleacher seats, shaking hands.
Everyone had their cameras out, basking in his glow. Michelle was taking her time, having one on one conversations with a couple ladies in the audience, looking genuinely interested given how tired she must be.
That's where the debate was won, on the expressions on people's faces afterwards. The audience suffered through that sterile 90 minutes, and it all paid off when Obama came around. Meanwhile John McCain was backstage sucking oxygen. He looked a little winded a couple times last night. If he wins, I give it two years before the Palin administration kicks in. But he was smart and knows better than to hang around near Obama in an organic, relaxed format. The people will always gravitate towards him.
Favorite moment from last night was when the candidates were asked about making the American people sacrifice. McCain's answer was surreal. He jumps in saying he's going to cut programs. Then begins going into detail attacking defense spending. Saying it's getting too big--an easy way to appeal to voters. But in reality we all know which programs would be the first to go--Medicare and Medicaid. THEN, McCain concludes his answer by saying he'd call for a spending freeze for everything except...defense. If that's not the onslaught of dementia I don't know what is.
As for Obama, he "can't" debate ONLY because these sterile live studio audiences with their cherry-picked seat fillers are the exact opposite of the passionate, high energy and loving masses he's used to. Of course he sticks out as the awkward kid in that very awkward format because it's not natural for him. But McCain on the other hand came off like he was speaking to his base, and that's usually what his base looks like--a quiet and frozen predominantly white audience, some of them half asleep and waiting to go to Baker's Square. He was right at home.
--Andrea Chalupa