Final Presidential Debate Warm-Up
The candidates will clash tonight at Hofstra University in New York. The topic is domestic policy and it all kicks off at 9:00 PM EDT. The moderator is CBS’s Bob Schieffer. Politico offered him some advice earlier today.
I will be live-blogging the event. Stop by and say hello. You can contact me directly via any of the following:
1) Comment directly on the live thread (It’ll be open by 8:00 or so).
2) Email me directly through the contact tab
3) Twitter
4) Facebook
5) My super-secret Skype account
Also be sure to check out the C-SPAN Debate Hub. It’s one-stop-shopping, honestly. Check it out.
Here’s what the New York Times says to look for tonight:
In tonight’s debate the two candidates will be seated next to each other at a table. The format is intended to promote conversation rather than the regurgitation of stump speeches. It sometimes encourages candidates to be more civil toward one another, but it can also have the opposite effect.
In previous debates when Mr. McCain has been seated next to his opponent — earlier this year against Mitt Romney and in 2000 against George W. Bush — he evidently saw no reason to restrain himself.
My prediction: Face to face at a table with a moderator to play off of? Obama will thrive in this setting. It gives him a chance to be conversational and charming. This will drive McCain nuts and he won’t be able to conceal his absolute disdain (he honestly thinks he’s being screwed out of the presidency). He’ll come off as an angry, old man. It’s over. Cue the fat lady.
On a sidenote:
Isn’t it amusing how conservatives belittle any garden-variety liberal who refuses to appear on Fox News, but think it’s perfectly ok for the #2 on their presidential ticket to avoid everybody BUT Fox News? Does she think belligerent foreign leaders or, even worse, our own congress will somehow be easier to spar with? Check out the poll on the left hand side.
See you tonight. UPDATED: The Live thread is now open. Click here to participate.
About the Author: Randall H. Miller is an American college educator/blogger. He is also a former U.S. Army officer (82nd Airborne) with a M.A. in Diplomacy (focusing on International Terrorism) and a B.A. in Criminal Justice. Use the form on the right to sign up and receive notifications of new content. The words and ideas expressed here are 100% his own and not those of his employers or affiliated organizations.
