Watched McCain for 10 minutes tonight on CNN

[MikeWaters]

for this national service thing. Man, he sounded very good. I was listening to him and thinking, this guy sounds like a president.

It's amazing how well he does when he just sits down and talks, versus reading a speech.

[SeattleUte]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

for this national service thing. Man, he sounded very good. I was listening to him and thinking, this guy sounds like a president.

It's amazing how well he does when he just sits down and talks, versus reading a speech.

I heard on NPR that before his handlers made him talk in sound bites he could and would answer question after question from a room full of reporters until they wanted to quit and go have dinner or go to bed. He'd wear them out.

[UtahDan]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

for this national service thing. Man, he sounded very good. I was listening to him and thinking, this guy sounds like a president.

It's amazing how well he does when he just sits down and talks, versus reading a speech.

He is outstanding in that format. When you listen to him in that context it is easy to imagine him as President.

[Travis Henry]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

for this national service thing. Man, he sounded very good. I was listening to him and thinking, this guy sounds like a president.

It's amazing how well he does when he just sits down and talks, versus reading a speech.

I also noticed the same thing, he is excellent just sitting there answering questions. He's knowledgable, sincere and very likeable. No wonder Obama won't do townhall meetings with McCain, Obama would get killed. McCain provides concise and thoughtful answers, Obama is verbose and gaffe prone (e.g. "that question is above my pay grade").

I also couldn't help but think that the Republicans picked the wrong guy back in 2000. I supported McCain over Bush. I found Bush uninspiring and lacking in substance. But the party leaders jumped on the Bush bandwagon and he's darned near ruined the party. What's currently happening at this late stage of the current election is nothing short of miraculous for the GOP given the headwinds it's facing. I think it's 1/3 Obama (an empty suit), 1/3 McCain's campaign exposing Obama for what he really is and doing a good job as presenting McCain as a viable "change" alternative and 1/3 Palin energizing the base.

[UtahDan]

Originally Posted by Travis Henry

I also noticed the same thing, he is excellent just sitting there answering questions. He's knowledgable, sincere and very likeable. No wonder Obama won't do townhall meetings with McCain, Obama would get killed. McCain provides concise and thoughtful answers, Obama is verbose and gaffe prone (e.g. "that question is above my pay grade").

I also couldn't help but think that the Republicans picked the wrong guy back in 2000. I supported McCain over Bush. I found Bush uninspiring and lacking in substance. But the party leaders jumped on the Bush bandwagon and he's darned near ruined the party. What's currently happening at this late stage of the current election is nothing short of miraculous for the GOP given the headwinds it's facing. I think it's 1/3 Obama (an empty suit), 1/3 McCain's campaign exposing Obama for what he really is and doing a good job as presenting McCain as a viable "change" alternative and 1/3 Palin energizing the base.

The advantage McCain has, and frankly the reason the press has loved him for years, is that he has always been a guy who would stand and answer reporters questions as long as they wanted and for the most point answered very directly. He has so much experience in Q&A settings that he comes over as being very, very comfortable. You can see with Obama that he is not as comfortable. He is obviously very bright, but he knows how much harm he can do by saying the wrong thing and he doesn't quite trust himself to give that answer he would want to if given some time to reflect on it. This is why he will sometimes reflexively duck rather than risk taking one on the chin. It takes practice to be able to spar with others on your feet. Its not something that stumping teaches you. Frankly, I think it is something you can learn to do or you can't. It is one part confidence and another part mental dexterity, which even some of the most brilliant people don't have.