Debate Drinking Games End In Sobriety

Thursday, October 16, 2008 | 1:00 AM

The final debate of this election cycle was also the most interesting. Whereas previous debates seemed more like over-hyped Broadway productions, this debate felt like a boxing match between two heavy weights. The repeated catch phrases and "message statements" were much less frequent and in their place, a gamesmanship with new strategies and, at times, a surprising pugnacity. Having broken into a double digit lead in many polls over the last 48 hours, Obama came in with the title to lose. McCain was tasked with opening up as many cuts as possible.
McCain made the first move, tapping into the "anger" of the American people with an aggressive start (which doesn't help cast off the notion that he's intemperate and running too negative a campaign).
He landed some direct blows on his opponent yet Obama bounced right back up, elegantly moved past it and jabbed back lightly but steadily with a calm ease that grew more confident with every passing question. McCain hit hard on Ayers and ACORN and championed the middle class in a way that he should have been all along but he was still unable to get control of the ring and even had trouble breaking in over Obama's voice. McCain not only failed to open up any cuts, he also stumbled, incorrectly identifying Sarah Palin's child with Down sydrome as autistic. His big move of bringing a third party into the ring, Joe the Plumber, was done ham-handedly. He overdid holding Joe up as a tragic victim of liberal policies, someone who could build a business and create jobs if not for Obama's tax increases. This left a perfect opening for Obama to come back at him with the populist reminder that plumbers make a good bit more money than the average voter, as does McCain. (Joe is certainly going to get his 15 minutes as I hear he will be on every major morning news show tomorrow).
As the debate progressed, Obama danced around McCain with levity between jabs and wore him out like a an Olympic pugilist. McCain blew all his energy in the first round. A controlled tactician versus brute force .

The focus groups have just come in and if it wasn't obvious from watching, Obama has held onto his title and maybe even come closer to the bigger prize.