McCain has to be likable tonight if he hopes to do well in the townhall debate

[cali]

If he comes off as a snarling attack dog, if he's nasty, if he treats Obama with obvious derision, if he doesn't look at him, he's fucking himself. Palin attacked Biden is a relentless chirpy way with a broad smile plastered on her face. McCain doesn't have the face or the temperment to get away with that approach.

A townhall debate is all about connecting to the tv audience via connecting to the real life audience. Bill Clinton, of course, was the master of that. For all the jokes about the "I feel your pain" moment, if you watch the video of that debate, you can't help but marvel at how good he was. He was respectful and not the least bit smarmy. Can McCain duplicate that? I just don't see it.

Obama gets tagged as being too cool and aloof. I don't think that's true when it comes to relating to the people he's talking to, and I certainly think he knows how to actually listen.

I expect Obama to do much better than McCain in this format, despite the conventional wisdom that McCain has the advantage here- though I'm happy that expectations for McCain are so high.

[ginnyinWI]

1. He can't pull it off--he'll snarl no matter what.

I think he's far too pissed at Obama to hold himself together and his real mood will show. I agree that his reputation as being good at town halls will probably be surpassed tonight by Obama's.

All I can think of now is his, "haw, haw, haw!"

[Lucy Goosey]

2. I agree, and I think McCain is incapable of being likable.

Seriously, what I saw in the last debate was utter contempt from McCain. He clearly believes that debating Obama is beneath him. So he'll try to look friendly, to look at Obama, to smile, etc., but it won't come off as genuine. Just look at how fake (and creepy) he looks when he tries to smile. He's not going to win this thing on style.

[WinkyDink]

3. He is not likable. He cannot project "likable". He cannot fake "likable". Fuhgeddaboutit.

[Bobbie Jo]

4. In other words...He can't just be himself.

Let John be John....:eyes:

[Mike Daniels]

5. It's funny that McCain jokes about not being Miss Congeniality when....

it was that trait that made him popular with the press and the public back in 2000.

If McCain thinks the press and public would have liked him in 2000 if had been a total dick during that campaign then he really is delusional.

[my3boyz]

6. I don't think he can pull it off

I truly don't. He is so pissed at Obama that I don't think he can fake it. Especially after the new PA polls.