McCain and Obama Clash in Second Debate

Senators John McCain and Barack Obama met in a debate that was advertised as a "town hall format," but was really sanitized to the point of tedium inducing. Both candidates did what they were supposed to do and both failed to do what they had to do.

John McCain was probably told by his handlers to keep jabbing, keep on the offensive during the debate. He was also told to show the American people he understood their economic anxiety. He certainly succeeded in doing those things.

McCain told the American people who was responsible for the current economic mess. "Meanwhile, the Democrats in the Senate and some -- and some members of Congress defended what Fannie and Freddie were doing. They resisted any change. Meanwhile, they were getting all kinds of money in campaign contributions. Sen. Obama was the second highest recipient of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac money in history -- in history." This was crucial. Some (though not all) polls show McCain sinking because Americans are blaming the liquidity crisis on the "party in power", i.e. the Republicans. McCain has to show that Barack Obama and the Democrats blocked attempts by McCain to stop the disaster before it happened.

McCain's proposal to renegotiate troubled home loans may be dubious in an economic policy sense. But it does show to the American people McCain's notion that the economic bailout package should help ordinary Americans and not just big banks. McCain was over all stronger on economic issues than in the first debate while maintaining his edge on foreign policy and national security issues.

Of course McCain did not achieve a "there you go again" moment, that magic instance in a debate in which one candidate lands a knockout blow on another and the course of the campaign changes forever. A lot of the mainstream media will therefore declare McCain the loser, even though he likely won on points.

Barack Obama succeeded in not, for the most part, losing his cool and presenting a calm, competent demeanor. Obama did not say much that was alarming and he actually got in some jabs of his own.