Media: The Town Hall Format Favors McCain

[Neecy]

We've been hearing this all day from the talking heads, but is it true?

I'll admit - I watched a lot of McCain's town halls during the primary and over the summer. I think it's a terrible format for him tonight, and here's why:

1. His town halls so far have been in front of friendly audiences who chuckle at his lines and heckle his opponent. The ONE time he got a question that wasn't completely fawning was a couple of months ago, when a veteran questioned him about his support for veteran's issues. McCain suddenly became an aggressor and was rude, snide, and sarcastic - with a fellow veteran. He finally dismissed him with a flip comment. All of his negatives were front and center: angry, aggressive, rude, unstable. Now, Brokaw may try to protect him from serious questions that are in the least bit negative, but in any event this won't be a fawning GOP audience - which spells trouble for McKeating.

2. He looks better behind a podium. Period. When McCain is moving he looks ancient, elderly, last-legs old. He clearly has arthritic hips and has to hitch his legs to move in enclosed spaces, making him walk like a penguin. When he's moving and angry it adds to his aggressor persona. But mainly he doesn't move well and the overall impression I get of him in town halls is that he's far older physically than his 72 years. Contrast this with Obama in every way and the effect won't be good. McCain also tends to mug much more in front of an audience than he does behind a podium - and his mugging, should it turn angry, won't go over well.

3. He's in trouble and he knows it. I'm sure he's getting heat from every GOP officeholder in the country about how poorly this campaign has been run. He probably thinks he has to hit, and hit hard. But in a town hall, he won't be hitting at the 'liberal media' - he'll have to come out swinging against a fellow citizen, or completely ignore a voter's question and strike out at Obama. Either scenario will look terrible for him. It's a no-win.

So I'm actually kind of happy at how the media is raising expectations for McCain tonight, because he absolutely won't be able to deliver.

[AzNick]

1. And foreign policy was his turf...

Let's raise the expectations a bit more, so that they all expect Obama to lose.

[AdvancedProgress]

2. Obama does well in these also,

but they forget to mention that today, although CNN touched on it briefly last night before heralding McCain's town hall prowess.

[Kalyke]

3. Hahahahahahahahaha!

Wait. That wasn't an Onion article?

[beachmom]

4. So ... the media is raising expectations for McCain? Excellent.

I think the real story at the town hall will be how Obama talks about the economy. He is continuing his "try out" for the presidency, so honestly, that is what is most important to me and a huge swath of the American people. I honestly don't care what McCain says anymore; he is so sleazy I just can't listen.

We are living in tough times that may get much tougher. We need a leader, and want to see one tonight.

[Window]

9. Absolutely. Raise those expectations.

[lamp_shade]

They're all doing it. Raising the bar. I love it.

[knowledgeispwr]

5. Good.

Let there be high expectations for McCain.

I agree that McCain up and moving around will accentuate his age.

[Drunken Irishman]

6. McCain is the greatest, bestest, most goodest town hall debater ever!

[4_Legs_Good]

7. McCain is incredible at town hall debates

No question. He COMMANDS the crowd.

It is going to be nearly impossible for Obama to win tonight in this format. But we're still up 9 points, so that gives us some room, even after we face the likely loss tonight.

I expect Obama to flail tonight, talking to regular people, and McCain to SHINE SHINE SHINE, be full of energy and just really good vibes.

Yes, my expectations couldn't be HIGHER for McCain tonight. It's really his last chance, and he'll take it by the hojos and BURY Obama.

Everyone in the media MUST know this is true. McCain will klobber Obama tonight, as he's a MASTER of the Town Hall debate.

David

[BrklynLiberal]

8. EXACTLY!!!!!

[ecstatic]

10. LOL @ walks like a penguin nt

[Parker CA]

11. So, since these town hall debates often encourage responses from the audience,

is there going to be a change from the previous debates where silence throughout was the rule? Will the audience in the room be able to show their approval or disapproval during tonight's event?

[JuniperLea]

12. Let them raise expectations;)

We know how that goes.

[Schulzz]

13. Dems: McCain ‘undisputed champion’ of the town hall

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/07/dems-mccain-%E2%80%98undisputed-champion%E2%80%99-of-the-town-hall/

[breadandwine]

14. Neecy, I'm not sure you're right.

The veteran who asked McCain a pointed question was probably someone not too fond of McCain that the McCain campaign failed to properly screen. But actually, everyone at tonight's debate WILL be screened --- by the organization setting up the debate. They will be screened as to their views of the candidates. Only UNDECIDED voters will be allowed in! Do you know any NORMAL person at this point who is undecided? Anyone undecided at this point is a brain dead idiot. Or someone who hasn't read a newspaper in ages. Real ignoramuses. The questions asked of McCain by these idiots will be incredible softball questions like,"Is your family enjoying the campaign?" McCain could well get through this debate with very little wear and tear and then the media would give the post-debate spin to him for the usual mantra of "EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS." He held his own!!!!!! Within a week the pundits would be saying he won and the brain dead idiots out there might actually believe it and vote for him.