John McCain needed to win, but he fell short on Tuesday.
What appeared to be John McCain’s last, best hope of upending Barack Obama’s presidential hopes passed Tuesday night during a debate that was surprisingly lackluster. McCain needed a win, he was forced to settle for a draw. Although there is one more presidential debate, scheduled for October 15, Tuesday’s town hall meeting was supposed to favor McCain, who is famous for enlivening small audiences. That didn’t happen. The crowd was silent, McCain was not affable enough and Obama didn’t falter. It all adds up to a potential rout come Election Day on November 4.
While McCain cut down Obama a few times – pointing out how the Democrat’s record is absent of policy breakthroughs – he never convincingly came out on top in any area. And Obama did a good enough job at deflecting McCain’s criticism, particularly when he noted how his Republican opponent has voted against alternative-energy legislation throughout his nearly three-decade senatorial career.
McCain’s best moments were on foreign policy and while that’s an important topic, many Americans want to hear talk of nothing but the economy. On that issue, both McCain and Obama appeared as lost as most economists, bankers and financial regulators. Obama, though, has a semblance of a plan. McCain still hasn’t detailed his. Until he does, his messages, negative or otherwise, will ring hollow.