Analysts WERE saying it was a McCain victory yesterday, because, to Analysts, he did what he was supposed to.
Unfortunately, they're paid specifically to look at things different from the average person, and the results seem to indicate that more independents went for Obama. A slight Obama victory equals a pretty darned bad loss for John McCain, because 1)He needed a big boost and 2)The first debate is usually the most watched.
As for WHY Obama won? Well, McCain's attacks didn't seem to really stick. He kept trying to drill the "What Senator Obama doesn't understand" rhetoric, but Obama responded every time with a lengthy explanation. But I don't think that's it. I think, honestly, that appearances made a huge difference in this debate. From a strict Body Language perspective, Barack Obama came across as much stronger than McCain. Staggeringly so. John McCain didn't look at Barack ONCE in the debate. Not once. It took some prodding from the Moderator, but eventually, Obama started looking over at McCain. Obama also does this really nifty thing with his hands, from a body language perspective. I dunno if he's doing this on purpose or not. When he's talking directly to McCain in the debate, he turns his wrist downward, which is a forceful, dominant gesture. But when he's appealing to the audience/camera, his wrists turn upward, which is much more open and friendly. It's remarkably subtle, and I wonder how much of that is his general attitude toward McCain, or how much of it is his attitude of "I have to show strength over my opponent." My best guess is that it's not a conscious thing, but it's kind of neat to watch.
McCain's body language was weak and stilted. Now, I'm not one to hold this against the man, because it's pretty common knowledge that the tortures he underwent in Vietnam were devastating enough that he cannot fully use his arms. It strikes me that his body language would be impacted. I have no idea if it is physically demanding of him to turn and face Obama. Regardless, subconsciously, the average person is not going to see McCain as winning the confrontation.
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As for my view on the debate? Well, personally, neither candidate touched on any issues that are sensitive to me, specifically, I think. Which are, in no good order:
Inflation
Education, both secondary and post-secondary
Online Poker
The last is such a tiny issue that, if a candidate mentioned it in any more than the most passing of contexts, I would have felt really weird about why they were running. There are bigger fish to fry. Education should make sense, since I'm a perennial college student, and my sister is employed as an inner-city highschool teacher. As she faces potential strike over the threatened reduction of her health care benefits, I guess I sort of care about both health care and education. But really, education matters quite a lot to me, particularly rising costs.
Inflation is a huge deal, that, unless I missed it, neither candidate had the cajones to mention even ONCE. Yes, I know there's a lending crisis. So low interest rates are a must, because people are getting killed trying to pay off debt, but slashing interest rates directly leads to inflation which should be basic Econ101, here. Inflation is killing everyone, not just folks who have bad debts. The price of groceries has spiked pretty notably, and I'd like to know what we're expected to do about it.
>Shrug<
It was worth watching. I'll watch the next two and the VP debate.
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