Tonight is the last chance Barack Obama and John McCain have to show Americans how their visions for America differ.
That's swell, but we all know what tonight's debate is really about — it's the last chance either candidate has to make a major blunder and self-inflict a campaign crippling wound.
Esquire went back to the archives to find examples of how presidential campaigns destroyed years of campaigning during a few seconds of debate time. Here are some of the highlights (or low points). You can check out the videos on Esquire's site.
- 1960: Nixon vs. Kennedy: Richard Nixon made the horrid mistake of refusing to wear makeup. His pasty skin, five-o-clock shadow, and unfortunate weight loss due to hospitalization distracted viewers and helped shift the momentum to a tan JFK.
- 1988: Bush vs. Dukakis: When asked if his wife was raped and killed, would he want the death penalty for the killer, Dukakis said: "No, I don't, and I think you know that I've opposed the death penalty during all of my life.” His lack of emotion didn't fly.
- 2000: Gore vs. Bush: Gore's sighs and eye-rolling. Enough said.
Is there a good chance we'll add to the list tonight — or are the candidates going to play it safe?
Meltin Pot
Wonderbra
Mexx
Don't think much is going to happen tonight. These 2 are very boring debaters.
1I agree, but I wish McCain would come alive. He's got a big message and hasn't bothered to say it. Obama is winning almost by default.
2McCain should play it safe - if he goes where his base wants him to go, you know Obama's ready and waiting.
3I have a feeling this is going to be an uneventful debate... I've been very disappointed with both McCain and Obama during these debates, this is the time when all of America will be watching and I don't feel that either candidate has made his mark on this election. I've watched all of the debates up to this point live but I might just DVR this and go Halloween Costume shopping instead...
4I most enjoyed those video clips, Liberty! Thanks!
5well i have to say that after watching the last debate, i'm not overly thrilled to see this one, but i guess that there's a lot to talk about since they've each come out with new policy within the past week. i just hope that mcain finally stops saying 'my friends my friends' cause that's just annoying. i like him, maybe even more so than obama these days, but the talking - ugh! i just want to put it on mute and read the captions
6McCain doesn't necessarily need to attack Obama to come alive. He needs to present his case in a way that doesn't sound like he is only half-heartedly trying.
On a side note, Howard Stern did a number on liberals in New York (I think). He went around asking peope who they were voting for, and if they said Obama he asked why. When the people mentioned his policies, Stern substituted McCain's stances (like on the war, or stem cell research) adn the people just blindly agreed that that's why they supported Obama, because of Obama's stances on those issues. It was hilarious!
7I don't think I can stomach another debate.
8This has been the strangest election "season". From Palin to Acorn to McCain's Transition Chief aiding Saddam to accusations that serving on a educational board equally BFF to ethic investigations to the economic meltdown to the weird subculture of people who honestly believe that Obama is some kind of socialist Islamic Muslim sleeper cell agent embedded in the US to take over the world to idiots thinking he is the anti-christ.
WTH is this world coming to.
This has been madness. AND its not over yet!
9I would like to see McCain say tonight to 60 million people in his closing statements... Senator Obama is a man I admire. He is a good family man. He is a good Christian. He has served his community well. There would be nothing to fear from an Obama Presidency but I am 100% convinced that I have a better vision for this country, a better economic plan for this country, a better way to create jobs, a better plan to protect our shores, a better plan to help our soldier complete their mission, win this war and come home safely. I believe it with all my heart and I have the experience to make it happen exactly as I have laid it all out to you tonight.
10I just hope McCain stops trying to make jokes because he is not funny! That was the most annoying part of the last debate to me.
11And McCain has created a really odd campaign where Obama loses even if he wins cause McCain has beat the drum and contributed to the "idea" that Obama is some scary shadow figure who is "not an American like you and me" (Palin's mantra) and somehow the "risky" choice. "Who is Barrack Hussein Obama" rhetoric.
Which somehow has managed to legitimize people thinking he is an Islamic Muslim socialist sleeper
cell hell bent on destroying the American way of life. If Obama wins these people will think it is the end of the world.. some have said they will revolt and will not recognize him as their
President. They will claim he only won because of Acorn voter fraud...they will say that anything nice McCain says afterwards is because President Obama has a gun to his head and he fears for
his life. Obama better have the best secret service detail in the history of the Presidency.. scary scary scary.
I have been reading comments of people on Fox News articles.. I have been reading the comments at other websites and watching those youtube videos.. its not THAT small of a group. Even the "He is an Arab" lady that McCain took the mic from and attempted to contradict and assure.. afterwards spoke to the cameras and said she worked at her local McCain campaign site and that everyone felt the same way she did and that she mailed out 4000 letters explaining that Obama was a Islamic Muslim with terrorist ties. When the interviewer said but mam his mother was white and Christian she answered yeah but his father was Muslim so he just has it IN HIM.
Can this election just be over already please.
12I can't wait for the debate, I'm goinggg zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..
13I just hope this one is more like the snl skit debate. That was great.
14I just hope Obama does well.
15Fuzzy math!!
16I'll put your fuzzy math in a lock box!
17OMG...the SNL skit debate was HI-larious!!! If only....
18I couldn't get over what a good job they did. That guy playing Obama was great. It was one of the funnier things that SNL has done in YEARS! I loved how it was an equal opportunity teaser. Everyone got made fun of and everyone got to laugh at everyone. That makes me happy!
19Yeah, that SNL skit was hilarious.
I imagine this debate will be like the others. I'll watch, but mostly to see whether any gaffes are made; I feel I've heard it all before already.
20Yawn, we have! They keep saying the same things over and over!
21I really hope the debates are exciting tonight - I have a feeling they will be more interesting since we are down to the wire and they are trying to get in their final words before the election. I just hope it doesn't get nasty.
That Jon Stewart clip is funny, Jon looks so young there! And I know some people don't like that Obama "smirks" or smiles or wahtever you think he does, but at least he doesn't sigh and eye roll like Al Gore. THAT is rude.
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