This is not likely McCain's personal brainchild, but apparently one of his strategists thinks that it's a great idea to put him in a small room with no rules, no moderators, and no big crowds where he can go toe to toe... mano a mano with Obama. Kind of a political cage match..

The Obama camp seems to have tentatively accepted, so this has a good chance of coming to fruition.. and relatively soon.

McCain challenges Obama to town hall-style debates - USATODAY.com

- So, what is the McCain camp's thinking in proposing this?

- Who do you think will come out on top in such a format?


[Edit] ... and bonus question: If we were to draw an early parallel, or to put forth an analogy, to the Lincoln-Douglas debates, what would it be?

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Congratulations President-Elect Obama

I don't see a reason not to...

It's a smart move by McCain. Obama has proven to be weak when unscripted while it is McCain's forte.

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American by birth.
Conservative by the grace of God.

Yeah, I'd say it's (probably) a smart move for McCain.

Going up against a long-term Senator, Obama desperately needs to avoid looking inexperienced or unsure of what he's doing; if McCain can knock him off his game in a debate it'll really hurt, and that'll be easier for McCain to do without the restrictive rules of a formal presidential debate. And, of course, American political expectations make it difficult to turn down offers to engage in town-hall events; it makes you look elitist and afraid of your adversary.

On the other hand, a town hall event could give Obama a chance to really pound McCain hard on Iraq...

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To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society. -Theodore Roosevelt

One thing McCain would have to do is watch his temper he is known for.

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"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

I must have been watching different Republican debates than you. When I saw McCain against the likes of Romney, Huckabee and, yes, even Ron Paul, McCain seemed to spend more time making wise cracks (a la Fred Thompson) about the other candidates and giggling afterward, instead of actually worrying about whether his points were solid. Though Romney's uber-patriotism (e.g. "Gee, I can't think of anything I don't like about this great country") sometimes made me want to freaking puke, I thought he appeared considerably more presidential than McCain, who often looked confused and tried, at every chance he could get, to provide the vaguest answer to what were often specific questions.

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"The nice part about being a pessimist is that you are constantly being either proven right or pleasantly surprised.”
- George Will

It's a bit disingenous to assign this criticism solely to McCain.

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American by birth.
Conservative by the grace of God.

Here's the danger for Obama, when speaking off the top of his head he makes factual errors (near misses actually like Auschwitz ISO Buchenwald). This of course won't show up until the post-game analysis.
The big strategic benefit to Obama would be to showcase his energy and his great speaking voice and charisma on the same stage as the weak voiced, elderly and uncharismatic McCain.
On almost any issue, Obama would have the advantage of being on the more popular side.

I think anyone who actually watched these events would come away thinking Obama had "won", but for those who only watched the 7 second soundbites of Obama saying something that was inaccurate, McCain might pick up support.

If McCain tries to emphasize his experience, Obama should just look at him and say "John McCain, you were there, as a leader in the dominant political party, and here we are with record deficits, an unnecessary, badly mismanaged war and a struggling economy. You do have a record of leadership, poor leadership, and that is why the American people want a change"

What can McCain do at that point, lose his temper?
If he remains calm, he has to explain his record of unquestioning support for George Bush, and that makes him either a follower of Bush, or a leader who makes bad decisions.

Unless McCain thinks he can just bring up Jeremiah Wright every time he gets stuck, but that will get old quick.

I think Obama has to get onstage with McCain every chance he gets, to flush the image of McCain 2000 out of the public mind and replace it with McCain 2008, the guy who's lost a step, and is just too old to be handed the most difficult job in the world.

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“ The subjects of every state ought to contribute towards the support of the government, as nearly as possible, in proportion to their respective abilities; that is, in proportion to the revenue which they respectively enjoy under the protection of the state.”

Adam Smith , The Wealth of Nations 1776

"We have always known that heedless self-interest was bad morals; we know now that it is bad economics"
FDR's second Inaugural Address

I'm not too sure about that. He's had plenty of practice with one on one debating. Clinton has actually done him a favor in that regard.

I would agree, however that McCain is much better off not reading when he speaks. It's completely unnatural and uncomfortable to watch. When he can just be converstational, he appears more likeable and authentic.

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Congratulations President-Elect Obama

I don't think Obama is great in debates but he is much better now than he was in the first few back last spring.

__________________
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

yes by all means, thats what we need, more empty suit charisma america!!!! he sounds good, looks good- yes we can!!!!!


then let him run on what he is, a liberal, we'll see how that plays since hes tacking back to the middle now fast as he can get away with it.


unfortunately thats true...but don’t worry, your msms buddies would man up for him in the post analysis.

thats a 2 headed coin- gas was $2.34 in nov 2006 and we could go on......though it doesn't appear to be very expensive here at the forum...


yea, lets take a 2 year senator, a 4 year state legislature guy who won because his opponents stepped aside and give him the United States , great idea. That won't wash either.

in the end I would like to see it and come what may, whom ever screws up screws up, but we need more than just a couple. I want to see 5-6, see them craft their positions as they go along and react debate to debate.

Oh and far as Obama making any “factual” errors etc. we have heard nothing but and criticism for the last 7 years so, it is what it is.

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No individual can plan his own existence in their view.

So the state planners must arrogate to themselves the right to manipulate any sector of the economic system if the good of “society” or the “general welfare” is paramount.

Ipso- if the rights of the individual get in the way, the rights of the individual must be sublimated.

The Road to Serfdom
FA Hayek (interpretation)


Mortgage Backed Security survivor

Obambi is a great "speech reader" but he is terrible when off the teleprompter. Advantage = McCain

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I think at this point there needs to be a focus on an immediate increase in spending and I think this is a time when deficit fear has to take a second seat . . . I believe later on there should be tax increases. Speaking personally, I think there are a lot of very rich people out there whom we can tax at a point down the road and recover some of the money."
-- Barney Frank, October 20, 2008

That's an accurate assessment of them IMO.

Obama is good speaking anywhere. McCain is really only good in the 'town hall' scenario. Moreover, unscripted formats provide more chances for any human being no matter how gifted one naturally is in oratory to misspeak, have a 'blank moment,' miss something, etc, i.e., more chances for errors that an opponent can capitalise. Obama won't get it wrong in a set piece so the unscripted 'town hall' style debate is a "twofer' to McCain's advantage.

McCain stands to capitalise on this advantageous scenario because Obama's themes and strategies don't really allow for a declining of such invitations. So, it's a Godfather-like "I"ll make you an offer you can't refuse" proposition for McCain.

McCain will defintely out experience Obama. I think it would be a great idea for America. One on one, town hall meetings with both candidates present answering questions from Americans.

Obama has been debating Clinton, so he's worked on style, because there wasn't that much difference between them on the issues.
With McCain he's got issues he can pound. The next president may appoint as many as 3 Supreme Court Justices, McCain wants Roe overturned. The GOP always used that as a wedge issue, Right to Lifers voted GOP, Pro Choice people didn't worry about it, because of Roe, now it's a very real issue.

McCain has been a cheerleader for the war since forever, now we see the intelligence was hyped, the war was mismanaged and McCain just kept silent and voted the Bush line. He's Johnny come lately to the "Bush may have made mistakes" position. The people are still angry about that.

McCain has been in debates about who is Reagans true heir, in front of Republican crowds.
The audience for these debates is against the war, they are worried about the economy, and they think the country is on the wrong course, how will McCain resonate with them?

__________________
“ The subjects of every state ought to contribute towards the support of the government, as nearly as possible, in proportion to their respective abilities; that is, in proportion to the revenue which they respectively enjoy under the protection of the state.”

Adam Smith , The Wealth of Nations 1776

"We have always known that heedless self-interest was bad morals; we know now that it is bad economics"
FDR's second Inaugural Address