And so, weary campers, the end is in view. Tonight's debate is the third and final tussle between Messrs McCain and Obama. A victory on points won't help Mr McCain; it's far from certain that even a knockout defeat can really hurt Mr Obama. Anyway, I dare say I'll try and live-blog the thing again. So what does Mr McCain have to do? Here are some helpful tips from National Review Online:
Advice to McCain [John J. Pitney, Jr.]
What
demeanor should McCain display tonight? Angry doesn't work. Solemn
doesn't work. ake-smiley doesn't work. Instead, McCain should go back
to his roots and unleash his inner smart-aleck. If Obama accuses him of
being erratic in a crisis, he should say: "So I'm erotic in a
crisis? Who knew?"
This approach has a couple of
advantages. First, it enables McCain to show the more appealing side of
his personality. Second, it throws Obama off his game. His handlers
have surely anticipated every possible attack line about Ayers and
Wright. And as a good liberal, he's waiting for the chance to say,
"Have you left no sense of decency?" But he'd be hard put to defend
against ridicule. The One can't handle the jokes.
So to get ready for the debate, McCain should lay aside the notes, crack open a beer, and watch Animal House.
It really is hard to see what could possibly go wrong with taking this approach. As another doomed candidate once-never-quite-said, "Crisis? What crisis?"
If McCain tries the erratic/erotic line or similar, two things will happen. Obama will laugh along with everyone else, and people watching will make a crack about McCain going deaf.
Posted by: Simon D | October 15, 2008 at 07:38 PM