Debate Prediction: It Will Be Even Handed & Will Not Change Trends At All

[stopbush]

In fact, it may be something of a letdown on both sides.

I believe McCain will keep his head down and will try to assume his nice-guy persona. His biggest challenge right now is to get people to like him. All other worries pale in comparison.

Obama needs to continue to be steady. People are looking to him as the harbor in the storm. Anything that smacks of being anxious or unsettling works against the image he has established for himself. He will fight back at anything McCain throws at him with facts and figures from sources other than himself.

At the end, the pundits will score it a draw, just like their first debate, which means Obama wins. McCain may do slightly worse than the first debate, but that will be due to the economic situation on the ground and little else.

We're seeing a replay of the primaries, where Obama slowly and steadily built an insurmountable lead over Hillary. Of course, that didn't stop the media from banging the horse race drum, even when it was over, not did it keep Hillary from stirring the waters and squeezing every last drop of blood from the turnip. Same thing's happening now. Everybody knows it's over, but we must go through the motions for some reason.

For those worried about Brokaw being unfair to Obama, don't. Obama is always a step or two ahead of the traditionalists, and Brokaw is no different.