Remember Al Gore rolling his eyes and being condescending in the first debate w/ Bush?

[girl gone mad]

I think McCain just gave a very similarly bad performance.

McCain came across like a condescending, grouchy old man. His body language was terrible. Most people will not be able to digest the meat of the issues, but they can process those physical cues. McCain simply didn't look Presidential.

[RichardUK]

1. Exactly

Obama just rose above the petty patronising digs. I can't imagine anyone being impressed by McCain's condescension.

[girl gone mad]

2. CNN said the independents..

turned the dial down frequently because of McCain's over-aggressiveness.

[4_Legs_Good]

3. Absolutely agreed

He was sitting over there just staring off and making dismissive looks throughout the entire debate. Obama was engaged. On body language, Obama definitely wins.

David

[holiday]

5. McCain's performance was a thousand times worse than Gore

Hopefully the MSM will ream him for this like they did Gore

[vanderBeth]

4. The pundits are already saying that.

[lolamio]

6. Bingo. He came across as mean-spirited. n/t

[fishwax]

7. Yep. Exactly what I've been thinking of

I think McCain's condescension may be the lasting effect of this debate, particularly since it appears to turn off independent voters.

[Arugula Latte]

8. Yep. Style is what millions of voters take away from these things.

McCain didn't do himself any favors by playing into his old crank image.

[Greyskye]

9. I was closely watching the CNNHD audience reaction meter

Every single time McCain went condescending towards Obama, Independents hated it.

Every. Single. Time.

And my friends, that was a lot.

Oh yeah, and "Miss Congeniality". They pretty much loathed that every time as well.

[weezie1317]

10. Yes, and it was like when Bush Sr. looked at his watch during the Bill Clinton debate in 1992 ()