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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2008 > September > 27
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Former Ohio congressman plays Obama for McCain’s debate prep
In preparation for Friday’s presidential debate in Mississippi, former Ohio Congressman Rob Portman (below) portrayed Barack Obama in John McCain’s practice.
According to the Associated Press, a campaign spokesman says Portman spent hours helping his fellow Republican practice a head-to-head meeting with his Democratic rival.
This isn’t the first time Portman has served as the Democratic practice partner for a Republican presidential candidate. In 2000, he was Al Gore during George W. Bush’s debate preparation.
He also played Joe Lieberman and John Edwards for Dick Cheney’s debates in 2000 and 2004.
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UD persusasion expert gives debate edge to McCain
In presidential debates, what counts is not just what the candidates say but how they say it.
Randy Sparks, a persuasion expert at the University of Dayton, gave Republican John McCain a slight edge over Democrat Barack Obama in the second category in their debate on Friday, Sept. 26.
McCain over and over made the same point, simply and clearly, that Obama does not understand the complex issues facing a president, said Sparks, associate professor of marketing.
“The cumulative effect of that is kind of like a boxer throwing a jab at his opponent…the cumulative effect over the course of time can be significant,” said Sparks.
On the other side, Obama often began his sentences with a long, drawn out “and” before getting to his main point in a rapid cadence. Debaters should make sure their main point comes across in “bold face,” said Sparks.
“McCain, I thought, did a better job of branding himself than Obama,” said Sparks.
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Strickland, Taylor disagree on debate winner
Everybody in politics probably has an opinion on the first presidential debate between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama on Friday, Sept. 26.
In Ohio, Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland and Republican Auditor Mary Taylor came out firing on behalf of their candidates soon after the debate was over. Here’s what each had to say in prepared statements:
Strickland:
“Barack Obama made clear tonight that he is ready to be Commander in Chief and lead this nation through perilous times at home and abroad.
“He demonstrated the judgment and the resolve we need to keep America safe while managing the economic crisis we face.
“If there was any question remaining, John McCain made it official—a McCain-Palin administration would be nothing more than a continuation of the failed Bush policies that have devastated Ohio and our nation.”
Now for Taylor:
“Tonight, families throughout Ohio and across the country saw the clear reasons why John McCain is the right leader to protect our country and grow our economy.
“In an increasingly difficult time, America needs the judgment and experience of a man who has always put his country first. That is what has defined John McCain’s life, and that is what will define his presidency.”
