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Originally Posted by AjaxPress
I think it's also possible. However for McCain to have won points on this Obama would have had to play along and also delay the debate....
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That's why he had the option of doing the debate anyway up his sleeve.
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.... This was a foolish risk imo because McCain can't control any variables in this situation....
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Reality is often different than the perception of an average voter.
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.... Take public opinion for example: According to polls referenced previously in thsi thread more Americans than I expected felt that the debates should continue, which means that off the bat most Americans polled disagreed with McCain's position....
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As not one to put much of any weight to polls, I will now. Yes, it could be said that the opinion of JSM changed.
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.... Likewise there was very little incentive for Obama to actually pull out of the debates....
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You're right; there wasn't. However, of the two possibilities of what BHO could do (pull out or stay in), if BHO had pulled out of the debate, too, JSM wins points for leading on that idea.
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.... If Obama stayed then he looked "unpatriotic" however if he followed McCain he wouldn't have looked like a leader....
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If BHO stayed in the debate, as he did, the rhetoric against JSM turns out to be nullified (for the non-partisan, that is). That rhetoric (and I'll just repeat the grown-up rhetoric) included that JSM can't multitask, that he has run out of money, that he isn't prepared and needs more time, etc. None of that really matters. He's doing the debate.
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.... McCain took a risk but I think he or his planners didn't prepare for what could have happened next....
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I understand your view. However, as I think I am by no means anywhere close to being a talented political strategist (or even a poor strategist), I suspected this move by JSM several days ago (as did others such as Impugn). I have to think that those who are actually paid for strategy, knew what they were doing.
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.... Since it became increasingly obvious that the debate would continue whether McCain was there or not he was put into a difficult situation....
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That's possible, too. It's just as possible as my scenario.
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.... By not showing up Obama gets a free publicity....
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And no political strategist would allow for that. I certainly wouldn't, and that's not my job.
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.... Let's also not forget the Harry Reid is the Senate Majority Leader. He could have easily played up the "nothing is happening right now" while McCain was left sitting on his hands in Washington while Obama is given an opportunity to essentially give talking points in prime time....
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True. Unfortunately, GWB summoned both JSM and BHO. It would have been a pretty bad move for BHO to ignore that one.
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.... The final nail in my opinion though is that John McCain has now backed down. If he had stayed in Washington at least he could have seemed more principled on this matter. Since he backed out though he just looks insincere and possible outright dishonest. He also has to now defend his position of why he has decided to attend to the debates should the situation come up during the debates....
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And, I can understand how you would see it that way.
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.... Si Modo, you may see it as a slick maneuver but I think it was a foolish and impulsive move.
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And that, my polite colleague at USPOL, is what makes elections interesting.
[edit] And, "slick" is not always a good thing. [/edit]
09-26-2008
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