On the debates - lest we forget

[garthranzz]

The main purpose of these debates is a) to reassure the base and b) to convince the independents/undecideds. These are often contradictory goals. Of the two, the second is the more important. You can always fire up the base on the campaign trail.

Obama and Biden won because they did both - just enough reassurance - because they're aware we already trust them. They then showed they were both passionate, reasonable and reasoned - the independents.

McCain and Palin reassured the base - didn't fire them up all the way, just reassured them.

Watch for the McCain/Palin attack ads.