Debate prediction: If Obama deflects McCain's attacks with a touch of humor then McCain is done.

[Frumious B]

I think that McCain will make the mistake of overreaching and charging too hard in order to deliver the "game changer" that he needs. All Obama need do is dismiss McCain with a quip, some Obama equivalent of "There you go again." and then go right back to talking about the issues. He should not make the mistake of getting drawn into a shooting war with McCain tonight.

[Curtland1015]

1. Agreed. McCain is the one that needs the "game changer" here, not Obama.

All Obama has to do is play it cool. Don't let McCain drag him down.

[LibraLiz1973]

2. After the Palin debacle, I'm not sure Obama should use the phrase "There you go again"

But otherwise, I totally agree with you.

[nyhuskyfan]

3. I'm happy with "he just doesn't get it"

Or "you just don't get it" when speaking directly. It's been used a lot on the campaign trail and it has legs.

Keep painting the guy as being out of touch with mainstream Americans.

[Old Codger]

4. Right on

He needs to do his best to rebuke him in a gentle way, and keep on with his calm deliberate style not getting caught up in anything from MCcain... if he can continue in that manner there is a good chance Mccain will blow up , would love to see that happen..

[vi5]

5. Plus, I think Obama not getting riled..

..and not firing back gets McCain even ANGRIER. Which is where we want him to be.

[DU9598]

6. My suggested quip

McCain: You are an unknown, you hang out with Ayers, your pastor hates America.

Obama: Wow, John, that is so OLD!

Crowd: Chuckes, a few republican groans

Obama: Welcome to 2008, John, where people are angry, and they are losing their American dream due to the fiscal mess that you and your team of republicans brought on us.

[theoldman]

7. Obama just needs to keep his cool and stay on subject.

He needs to pretend that McCain is not there except when he makes a rebuttal. Then is the time to hit hard and point out the error of his ways. BTW, this obviously easier said than done.

[JaneQPublic]

9. Yes, America is looking for a strong, cool-headed leader right now...

...not someone who can win a contest for who can be the snarkiest smart ass.

If McSame goes on the attack, Obama just needs to present a calm, concise rebuttal and then immediately say we need to get back on the subject of the economy and the myriad other crises the GOP has saddled the country with.

[JBoy]

8. Here's how to respond to any nonsense that McCain brings up:

"John, millions of Americans have tuned in tonight to hear from us how we plan to solve some of the serious problems facing their families and this country. Instead of giving them an answer, you're wasting their time talking about *********. If you have no plan, or simply intend to do whatever George Bush did, why don't you just tell them?"

[quantass]

12. Good response. nt

[Guava Jelly]

10. Prediction..McCain tries to physically sucker punch Obama

Obama deflects his feeble punch attempt leaving McCain spinning like a freak'n dradle.
McCain falls to the ground and pisses himself.
McCainiacs spin it as "Obama hurls old war hero to the ground".
McCain wins sympathy vote by a landslide..
The great GoPsUxTrAdUmBaSs has spoken. :popcorn: (Bookmark this thread) :silly:

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

11. Obama should present his opening remarks as follows:

"Good evening, America. There is no teleprompter, no notes, and no prepared remarks tonight. I just want to have a conversation with you, face to face, just you and me. And I want to tell you what I want to do for YOU as the President of the United States. I will not entertain or engage in personal, negative attacks. I simply want you to know and understand that I have a plan that will transform the lives or ordinary Americans for the better."

When McCoward attacks, ignore him, just as Biden did. The focus ought to be on the record. By God, I hope that Obama speaks more on HIS record, contrasting it with McCoward's.

[Hepburn]

13. Obama's smile and his warm, wonderful voice are his best weapons against any snark from McHoover

Obama sounds and looks good...he is a very nice man and he looks and sounds like this. Let McCain do the nasty attacks and let Obama be above it with his emphasis being on us ~~ the people he will serve. That to me spells P-R-E-S-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L. And that is something in both act and deed which McCain is NOT!

JMHO

[leftist.]

14. It really does seem like this is what will happen.

And I hope McCain goes for it. He's getting pushed almost nonstop on hate radio to bring up these past "associations" and the campaign already has Palin regurgitating them, though I suspect her use of the term "paling around" backfired. I like your suggestion about brushing it off with a quick one-liner and then getting back to the issues. That's part of what won Obama the first debate - talking directly to the public about the economy when McCain just rambled aimlessly about earmarks (protip: McCain, no one cares about earmarks, they are a tiny percentage of government spending).