Reply #5: I think that's one of three (or more) explanations. [View All]

[speedoo]

Some others being:

1. As Gene Robinson of WaPo suggested, McCain always treats his opponents this way. (I do not think this is supported by McCain's behavior in other debates.)

2. It's more contempt than fear. McCain simply despises Obama, does not see him as an equal.

3. It's more tactical... he does not want to lose his temper, and thinks that not looking at Obama helps him with this problem.

Whatever it is, it's a huge problem for McCain. He cannot win the election behaving this way.