Quick thought on the debate

I haven't seen this mentioned in the debate reax this morning, but last night I kept thinking that there are a lot of already anxious white people in this country who could go either way in this election but harbor a basic discomfort (not hatred) with the black people in their lives. Hence: If McCain can succeed at coming across as roughly equal to Obama in other respects, being a white grandfather could get him the comfort-food vote.

There's been a lot of discussion of body language and composure. Snap-polling among indies suggests Obama won.  But if you look at last night's debate through the comfort-food filter, then I think McCain won.

Tie goes to the white guy who appears legitimate and doesn't act like a spaz.

To be continued...

Comments

[Pam]

I didn't watch the debate, but have heard 'pieces' of it this morning - but I did speak to my Dedicated-Republican-Voting Father, who surprised his daughter by saying this morning 'McCain seemed to know more about the history of this country, but Obama is definitely really bright and well-spoken.' That was HUGE for my Father to say, a 75-yr old white male who is so loyal that he actually thought the University of Virginia could beat Southern California in football a few weekends ago. But...even with conservatives (Parker' piece in the National Review) calling for Palin to step down - if she stays on the ticket, I think that folks like my Father will go for a black man over a babbling woman (of any color).

(At least I hope so).

[Daniel]

After another day of percolation, I think it's pretty clear that I was wrong here. Janet told me last night that she disagreed, thinking along the lines of those who found McCain unpleasant.

I think the polling so far indicates that she's right and I'm wrong. Thank Gawd.

I think the way I've had to deal directly with so many people who would qualify as "the base" has distorted my sense of independent voters across the country. As some one put it yesterday, for The Base, being a mean-spirited jerk is a feature, not a bug.

Apparently that crowd has lost its ability to reach the mainstream of American culture.