Good News - We're Losing the Debate Expectations Game

[liberalpragmatist]

I can't find it now, but there was a poll issued today about the debate. Over 50% said they expected Bush to win the debate and only 32% or something around that thought Kerry would win.

If Kerry can merely project himself as a believable commander-in-chief, appear competent, in control, he improves MASSIVELY in the public's impressions. If he can deliver a couple knock-out punches, he's truly in the game.

If anybody can find the poll I saw (buried within some other article) please post the link.

[jpgray]

1. Ah, you mean we're WINNING

That's the two-edged sword the media have been swinging--if Kerry is a 'worthless flipflopper who is running an incompetent campaign that can't catch fire', it's hard to square that with believing he's the greatest debater 'since Cicero'.

:D

[A-Schwarzenegger]

11. Cicero is overrated.

For example, he liked to eat while the other guy was talking
and regularly got caught with a mouthful of mutton. He was a
master of disambiguation, however, and would often prod
neighborhood children into debates about issues they knew
nothing about, such as city vs. county funding for the
middle bureaucracy. He regularly wiped the floor
with little Chrysippus, a village idiot who broke into
involuntary high-pitched giggles in the middle of incomprehensible
riddles about hamsters which he would make up on the spot. So,
we should perhaps watch the Cicero comparisons.

[jumpstart33]

17. Problem is this is a preconceived notion that the media will glom onto

and make it stick, no matter what! The only thing that Kerry can do is come up with a zinger that really hits the message home to the dittoheads. He'll have to speak at a third-grade level with only one complete thought but I think he is up to it. "If natural disasters happen in more than just Florida we won't be able to help these people at the levels we just helped Florida because the money is all being spent in Iraq." It doesn't have to be true, just plausible. The dittoheads would understand this because most of them live in areas prone to natural disasters (that's where they ran trying to get away from those they deem "undesirables")

[Pirate Smile]

2. I know. It's great!. Bush should win, everybody knows it know.

If Kerry just manages to not fall over he will have done an awesome job.

[wildeyed]

3. Excellent!

We have successfully convinced the general public that our candidate is going to stink! :bounce:

Kind of counter-intuitive, but whatever it take.

[kstewart33]

4. That is very good news (eom)

[berner59]

5. Fowlers on Franken today....

Who has studied both debate styles made a great point that Kerry is actually better at debating (engaging, very pointed and strong) than giving speeches so he thought the public would be pleasantly surprised and this is just what Kerry needs!!

CAN'T WAIT!!!!!

[Sandpiper]

6. That means Rove isn't succeeding

In setting the bar so low for Dubya that all he has to do is not drool on himself in order to "win."

[Piperay]

7. TERRIFIC

there is hope yet! :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

At first I was annoyed when I heard that the public has such low expectation of Kerry, then I realized that meant chimp has to perform to a higher standard, haha. :evilgrin:

[VOX]

8. Ah, yes, the mighty orator *. Abandon hope all ye who oppose him!

That said, good, hope that the suckers keep taking the bait!

Thanks, liberalpragmatist! :toast:

[OKNancy]

9. If any of you recall the primary debates

I remember as a Clark person that I'd give grudging kudos to Kerry in the debates. I remember many DUers who supported other candidates saying Kerry won the debate ( even though Kerry didn't have a lot of support here in the primary season)Kerry is a good debater.

I think he will do a great job...I can't wait.

[helpisontheway]

10. It was a part of the Gallup poll

Sneider mentioned that the people expect the president to do better than the challenger. SO Bushie's old trick is not going to work.

[Qutzupalotl]

13. It's them bu-reau-crats in Warshington...

You're right, it's not going to work...unless they give him a bullhorn and a firefighter. He won't get a bullhorn, will he?

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[A-Schwarzenegger]

14. Yes, remember when Reagan forgot where the hell he was

in that debate with Mondale, completely didn't even
know who he was for a minute, and everybody was
wondering if he would fuck up in the next debate,
and he came out and made that joke about age before beauty or
something, and the Great American Idiot Brigade went,
"What a guy! Let's give him four more years!"

[villager]

12. In the MSNBC article on the polls....

...where they cite the polls where Bush is ahead (and none of the others). Then offer this:

And expectations for Bush to perform well are high, according to the same poll. Some 52 percent say they expect the president to do a better job in the debates than Kerry. Only 39 percent say Kerry will perform better than Bush.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6122850/

[emulatorloo]

15. My informal survey of cable punditry says "Kerry Can't Win the Debates"

Bush is far too personable, blah blah blah. . .So the lowered expectations are firmly in place.

Add this to the fact that this is the first time many people will actually hear Kerry speak (rather than be unfairly summarized by some bushbot on CNN), I think things are going to be good.

[deckerd]

16. Woo-Hoo! Tell yer ma, tell yer pa it's gonna be a real train wreck. n/t

[Rose Siding]

18. Today McClellan was really trying to spin that around...

but he doesn't seem to be busting through-

Q How are the debate preparation sessions going? Are you in on them? Are you --

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, he had one Saturday night that lasted a couple of hours. And then more of a working session yesterday where they went through some questions. The President knows he's going up against the most skilled debater he has ever faced. Senator Kerry has been preparing -- preparing and practicing for this all his life, from the time he was in prep school to being a star debater for his Ivy League school, to being a prosecutor, to spending 20 years on the floor of the Senate debating the issues. And I expect the President will do fine but he's up against a very formidable debater.

http://tbogg.blogspot.com/