Comments | jenny_dreadful: 538 post-debate opinion post....very heartening

jenny_dreadful

538 post-debate opinion post....very heartening

Sep 27, 2008 01:45

Why Voters Thought Obama Won
from fivethirtyeight.com (source)TPM has the internals of the CNN poll of debate-watchers, which had Obama winning overall by a margin of 51-38. The poll suggests that Obama is opening up a gap on connectedness, while closing a gap on readiness ( Read more... )

Comments 7

binks September 27 2008, 21:19:00 UTC

That makes me feel better. Thanks for posting! :)
I like your new username!

jenny_dreadful September 27 2008, 21:52:54 UTC

Thanks! ;D I leave you with this:

( ... )

zdevex September 29 2008, 05:56:36 UTC

This is hilarious!

danox September 29 2008, 02:35:10 UTC

"opening up a gap on connectedness, while closing a gap on readiness"

what does that mean?

jenny_dreadful September 29 2008, 04:00:42 UTC

Hee, I had to read it a couple of times too. Well, it means that Obama is widening the gap between himself and McCain on connectedness--he was already perceived as being more connected to the average American's needs, and since the debate that perception has grown, whereas the impression people have of McCain's "connectedness" has perhaps diminished.

As far as the "readiness" thing goes, Obama was seen in the past as possibly not experienced enough, not as "ready" in case of attack, basically not as "tough". The reason Obama wanted the foreign policy debate to be first is because he knew that the first debate is much more watched than the following, and he wanted to prove himself on the issue where he was seen as "weak". It's generally agreed that he was successful, and so he has closed the "gap" on "readiness".

can't wait till the Biden/Palin debate--he's going to tear her apart!!!

danox September 30 2008, 11:36:38 UTC

gosh!

zdevex September 29 2008, 05:57:37 UTC

I thought that the format of the debate worked out to be really awkward. This whole, address each other idea. Obama was trying to embrace it, and on several occasions talked directly to McCain, but McCain wouldn't have anything to do with it and acted like he was ignoring Obama. It was weird... Not to mention they moderator was being annoying asking them the same question, over and over. I believe it was the one about what programs they would cut to pay for the bailout if the bailout went through. Neither wanted to commit to anything, understandably since they bailout isn't finalized and they don't want to say they will or won't cut things until there is something final, otherwise they might alienate voters who supported said hypothetical programs. It was a worthless question. I hope they toss this new format on the next debates and go back to a more traditional format that is less weird. Plus they should give them both chairs, I don't see why they have to stand ( ... )