Ugh! Doing voter registration this morning.....feedback about the debate.

[tpsbmam]

I was in Asheville doing voter registration. I kept it nonpartisan but you know Dems, we love to talk politics so some people stopped to talk. I seriously thought Obama won handily but I was very much in the minority. As a matter of fact, I was alone! Every single voter who wanted to talk about it supported Obama and every single one thought it was 50-50 and McCain did pretty well. Oh well, all we need is enough of the uncommitteds to swing our way and I personally think he made good headway last night.

(BTW, the vast majority said they were registered -- no surprise in Asheville. The ones who registered with me were mostly people who had recently moved from elsewhere and 100% registered Democratic.)

[Kahuna]

1. I think it was 50/50 too. But a tie on McCain's turf is a win for Obama. nt

[saracat]

3. I agree.I saw it as 50/50 but that is a "win" for O.

[ColbertWatcher]

4. That's how I read it. "Foreign policy" is supposed to be McCain's specialty.

He was supposed to win by a large margin. But he didn't.

To bad for the ever-failin' GOP!

[dana_b]

2. ugh is right!!

I really think some people don't appreciate nuance and straight forward intelligence and restraint. It has to be cutting and snarky to "win" something like this - kind of like the offensive reality show crap. I believe that most here find that attitude condescending and off putting.

[Vincardog]

5. The only way you can see it as 50/50 is if you give credence to McGramps lies

[woo me with science]

6. Well, the important sentence is that every voter supported Obama.

All the news organizations were saying it was a tie immediately after the debate. I suspect a lot of people were just repeating what they heard.

[last1standing]

7. That's why anecdotal evidence should always be taken with several grains of salt.

Polling always outperforms anecdotes when it comes to gauging voter reactions and the polls all point to Obama winning big.

[firedupdem]

8. I think that makes it a win for Obama. At least they registered

the right way which in turn means more votes for us.

[lunatica]

9. Actually McCain did better than most people thought

I was quite surprised to see him do so well, while I fully expected Obama to do well so was not surprised that he did. Saying that someone won doesn't mean they'll run to McCain.

Another thing. Obama was flawless in my opinion. He was respectful, he didn't allow McCain to get away with his lies, and he nailed him on just about everything. Early on he decided to stop looking at Lehrer and start looking at McCain. Right there I knew he had won because McCain didn't ever look at him. In body language that shows only negative things about McCain. Fear, like a dog not looking at the Alpha male, disdain, which is baseless, and maybe just a hint of some racism perhaps? None of these things are positive.

And on an unconscious level McCain looked old and tired and Obama looked young and alert. McCain also symbolizes all the old white men who ran the country during the exhausting Cold War and who put barriers up against changes for women and people of color.

Obama symbolizes the very things McCain and his ilk have always kept oppressed and supressed.

Obama looked and acted presidential. McCain looked old and acted condescending and stiff.

And before you think I'm an ageist, you should know that I'm 60 years old. I'm quite comfortable with the idea of giving the wheel to the younger generation. Especially if Obama is an example of that generation. It's time.

edited to add a few words

[pansypoo53219]

10. yes, mcDick did well.

but he was very rude and snarly. not presidential. preznit maybe.

[FLyellowdog]

11. I disagree...

just because McCain didn't screw up does not mean he did well. This is the mediocrity we have fallen for in this country. McCain was adequate at best...that's not what this country needs in the White House. If one is always mediocre, then one is always at their best. McCain's best is way below the bar that Obama sets. McCain was adequate only...Presidential, NOT!