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Axelrod on Debates: Wonders if ‘McCain 7.0’ Will Show Up, Says Obama Has Learned McCain ‘Doesn't Like to Look at Him Very Often’
October 15, 2008 2:33 PM
The top adviser to Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., today contemplated whether Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., would introduce a new strategy at tonight's debate -- "McCain 7.0," he sneered -- and said the debates had clearly helped Obama rise in the polls.
"We've gained after each of these debates, including the VP debate, as I think people have gotten more familiar not just with the candidates but with the choice," said Obama's senior strategist David Axelrod.
"We're not in the business of reinventing ourselves from debate to debate," Axelrod told reporters as the Obama campaign plane flew from Toledo to New York City Wednesday afternoon. Axelrod said Obama's "consistency" throughout the debates, and the campaign in general, had helped him as he got to speak to 50-70 million of them without the filter of the media or his opponents' attack ads.
And what has Obama learned from these debates?
"He's learned that (McCain) doesn’t like to look at him very often," Axelrod said, noting the Republican's predilection for avoiding eye contact with his opponent. "I don't think it's of that much consequence" to Obama but "obviously, it was noted."
Axelrod added, "whatever the idiosyncrasies of Sen. McCain's debating style," Obama would focus on talking about issues. He said Obama was prepared for whatever questions or attacks might come his way this evening at Hofstra University at the third and final presidential debate, to be moderated by CBS News' Bob Schieffer. Obama intends to focus "on the future of the country" and focus on issues, hoping tonight's forum, with its focus on domestic issues, would allow the Democrat to talk more about energy, education and health care.
Tonight will be "the last chance for folks to see these candidates side by side and take the measure of them," said Axelrod, adding that this being the last debate would "accentuate the decision-making process for people still making their choices."
Axelrod said he personally thought Obama had impressed the American people.
McCain has suggested that since Obama remarked to ABC News' Charlie Gibson that McCain didn't make "to his face," in the last debate, any of the direct attacks on his character that his campaign had been making on the stump, he'd "assured" that McCain would at the very least raise Obama's relationship with former 60s radical William Ayers.
Axelrod disputed a reporter's characterization that Obama was "goad"ing McCain into raising the issue, saying Obama had merely been making "an observation." He said attacks like that "are not what the American people want to hear. ... There is such a seriousness of purpose among voters this year."
With all the talk of campaign tactics, and whether McCain can make a game-changing move tonight as Obama ascends in many polls, Axelrod said, "I think Sen. McCain's problem is fundamental, which is he's got a bad argument. He's essentially on the wrong side of history. He's arguing for a set of policies and an approach that have been discredited in a really dramatic way over the last eight years, and I’m not sure any stylistic change or approach in a debate can change that."
Obama has improved quite a bit as a debater since that first Democratic primary debate in South Carolina in April 2007, Axelrod said.
"He's honed his debating style over the course of these 25 debates," Axelrod said. "He's said before that the format of it wasn't always ... something that came naturally to him. I think he's mastered it very, very well."
ABC News pointed out that Obama was criticized for his response to a question in that first debate about what he would do immediately in response to another terrorist attack on U.S. soil.
Obama said then, "the first thing we'd have to do is make sure that we've got an effective emergency response, something that this administration failed to do when we had a hurricane in New Orleans."
That gave Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., the openings to say their first response would be to swiftly retaliate, and their campaigns said Obama's instincts were all wrong.
Axelrod seemed to acknowledge that Obama now gives more muscular responses to questions about terrorism, though "his views haven't changed."
-- Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller
October 15, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (154)
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"Obama cited Forbes as a possible member to his Cabinet"
Steve Forbes?
Gotta quote for that?
I see other right wingers spreading that around but they cite the 2nd debate and Steve Forbes was not mentioned in the 2nd debate.
Posted by: Ryan C | Oct 15, 2008 6:20:14 PM
Ryan C--The government is responsible for the economic crisis we are in right now. Why would we want them to be in charge of our health care? Nothing is ever simple when the government is in charge. And walk in clinics? We already have health clinics run by the government, they are sub-standard. I wouldn't take one step inside much less drag my kids in there. But with Obama's plan that is the only health care we will have. He is going to make it mandatory for employers to buy into this health care plan for their employees or make them pay an exorbant payroll tax. Small businesses will not be able to afford this, and will have to hire fewer people at a lower wage and give little or no benefits. And what of all the current insurance companies? They will lose business and have to reduce their staff also, causing more unemployed people. McCain's plan would keep these companies in business but make them more competitive and drive down the costs with his $5,000 credit and we will still have a choice.
Posted by: S Adams | Oct 15, 2008 6:18:03 PM
"McCain has repeatedly claimed that Obama would raise tax rates for 23 million small-business owners. It's a false and preposterously inflated figure.
We find that the overwhelming majority of those small-business owners would see no increase, because they earn too little to be affected. Obama's tax proposal would raise rates only on couples making more than $250,000 or singles earning more than $200,000.
McCain argues that Obama's proposed increase is a job-killer. He has a point. It's true that increasing taxes on those at the top would leave them less money for other purposes, including investment and hiring in the case of business owners. But the number of business owners who would see their rates go up would be only a small fraction of what McCain says. Many would see their taxes go down."
Gutless McCain caught in yet another lie.
Posted by: Ryan C | Oct 15, 2008 6:15:44 PM
"McCain has NEVER said he was increasing ANYONE's taxes"
So he is lying then.
Though Senator John McCain has promised to not raise taxes, his campaign acknowledged Wednesday that the health plan he outlined this week would have the effect of increasing tax payments for some workers, primarily those with high incomes and expensive health plans.
The campaign cannot yet project how many taxpayers might see their taxes go up, said Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Mr. McCain’s top domestic policy adviser. But Mr. Holtz-Eakin said in an interview that for some, Mr. McCain’s health care tax credits would not be large enough to compensate for his proposal to eliminate the tax breaks afforded to workers with employer-provided health benefits
Posted by: Ryan C | Oct 15, 2008 6:14:41 PM
Mr. Obama was spending more of his time explaining than attacking....
well, yeah, ryan.
Obama has his goons attacking Palin.... so he can keep his eye on the teleprompter.
The republicans don't have the goon power that the dumb dumbs do.....
Posted by: hmmmmm | Oct 15, 2008 6:13:43 PM
"the only person in this debate talking about increasing ANY taxes is Obama."
Well McCain certainly doesn't want to talk about axing health benefits even though that's exactly what his plan calls for.
Obama is being honest and telling people that if you make $250K+ your marginal income rate will go from 35% back to 39% as it was under Clinton.
That you payroll tax on money above $200K will go up 2 to 4%.
And that you capital gain tax will go from 15% to 20%.
But small business gets some breaks including a 50% tax credit on employee health plans (something McCain wants to tax employees on), a hiring incentive and no capital gains taxes on small biz investment.
If you make less than $250K, you get a multitude of tax cuts that exceed what McCain is offering.
Posted by: Ryan C | Oct 15, 2008 6:13:07 PM
Increasing taxes on those making over $250k INCLUDES 63% of small buisnesses....remember he telling the guy while he was out camp...that we must "SPREAD THE WEALTH"????
How quickly we forget!
Posted by: UnPoliticallyCorrect2008 | Oct 15, 2008 6:05:39 PM
Axelrod sneered? Typical since Obama sneers and smirks while McCain is talking during the debates. McCain talks to the American people, why would he direct his comments to Obama?
Posted by: S Adams | Oct 15, 2008 6:04:42 PM
the only person in this debate talking about increasing ANY taxes is Obama.
McCain has NEVER said he was increasing ANYONE's taxes.....last time I checked, he said that would not be smart to increase ANY taxes right now.
Posted by: UnPoliticallyCorrect2008 | Oct 15, 2008 6:04:35 PM
LOL.....Obama cited Forbes as a possible member to his Cabinet----yet Forbes has stated Obama's plan would devistate the economy and on a poll of CEO's across this country, Obama was rated either a D or an F.
But I suppose those polls mean nothing ...even though they signify WHOM/WHAT is being polled?
Posted by: UnPoliticallyCorrect2008 | Oct 15, 2008 6:01:09 PM
"we have the second largest corporate tax in the WORLD and he wants to increase that"
Obama plans on leaving the corporate tax rate where it is.
McCain wants to cut it.
"He wants to increase taxes on 63% of small businesses here in the US"
Which right wing org told you that one?
Posted by: Ryan C | Oct 15, 2008 5:58:58 PM
"Families place a high value on quickly getting simple care. Government should promote greater access through walk-in clinics in retail outlets."
This is what Michelle Obama wants to do.
Posted by: Ryan C | Oct 15, 2008 5:55:48 PM
"Right...and when more jobs go over seas under Obama's plan"
McCain is the big supporter of outsourcing.
Obama plans to remove tax breaks for companies that send jobs overseas and make tax incentives for companies who keep jobs here.
Posted by: Ryan C | Oct 15, 2008 5:48:02 PM
LOL...Nat....pretty funny......
But seriously...why even bother doing that much work??...I will just sit on my but except for every three months going down to the welfare office to do a check in and then get my food stamp, goverment check and housing assistance!
Be a nice 4 year vacation on Obama!!!!
Posted by: UnPoliticallyCorrect2008 | Oct 15, 2008 5:47:15 PM
For all those reasons, this final debate presents McCain with what might be an insurmountable challenge: impossible expectations and instant judgments as to whether he met them. NO CHANCE
Obama has used the past month to lock in his support by being aided by superior skills in appearing presidential by not rushing to judgement.
McCain is now running against many opponents: the economy, public dissatisfaction with President Bush, the clock and a skillful rival. That's a lot to overcome in one, final, debate.
WON'T HAPPEN
From Maverick to Mush..........
POTUS OBAMA - IT'S A LOCK
Posted by: Nat Turner | Oct 15, 2008 5:45:36 PM
UnPoliticallyCorrect2008,
Since you'll be quitting your job due to an inevitable Obama win, I could use a good hired hand to cut and keep my lawn nice and manicured. Also need a good car washer. If you do really good, I'll let you walk my dog.
It depends........Onyx doesn't like TWC's.
Apply within.....
POTUS OBAMA - IT'S A LOCK!
Posted by: Nat Turner | Oct 15, 2008 5:36:17 PM
Again........what are we challenging?
Posted by: UnPoliticallyCorrect2008 | Oct 15, 2008 5:36:16 PM
LOL....Obama's "promise (AKA lie) to cut taxes for 95% of America.....
Right...and when more jobs go over seas under Obama's plan it will not matter about his "promise (AKA lie) to cut taxes because you too will be waiting on that government check!
Posted by: UnPoliticallyCorrect2008 | Oct 15, 2008 5:35:23 PM
"You have both Obama and Axlerod openly questioning John McCain's manhood, basically calling McCain "gutless""
McCain is gutless.
Posted by: Ryan C | Oct 15, 2008 5:33:18 PM
That is really something. You have both Obama and Axlerod openly questioning John McCain's manhood, basically calling McCain "gutless". Meanwhile it is Axelrod and Obama who hide behind their surrogates when they accuse their opponents of racism. So tell me, who are the gutless ones?
This just goes to show you what a bunch of despicable low-lifes Obama and Axelrod are.
Posted by: OxyCon | Oct 15, 2008 5:31:27 PM
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