A Draw is a Loss for McCain

Debate one is down. And with neither candidate delivering a knock out punch, the advantage goes to the underdog going in. This is why Barack Obama emerges with the slight advantage. Even though he is more popular, he needed to establish that he could at least look presidential and hold his ground without significant mistakes on foreign policy. He succeeded.

McCain needed to deliver a decisive blow, and could have, but he didn't. And that isn't going to work with independent voters. Most viewers of debates watch the beginning, not the end. McCain was much stronger as the debate wore on, but with more than 40 minutes spent on the Economy, he failed to show why Senator Obama's approach is so dangerous in our current time...which it is.

It was as if McCain was at bat with three balls and two strikes and just couldn't keep his eye on the ball. He had a great opportunity to actually win the election last night. What should he have done?

1. Using the current bailout crisis, he should have clearly shown why this is the absolute worst time to raise taxes on anybody. Whether it's capital gains on small business, individual income, payroll, social security tax, anything.

2. He could have shown that Obama's plan cannot work because it is impossible to simultaneously lower taxes supposedly on 95% of Americans (it's a lot more than that), increase taxpayer spending for universal healthcare and all of the rest he promises, and balance the budget. Obama has promised to do all three. He can't. He will be forced to break at least one or more of those promises.

3. He could have exposed Obama's plan to redistribute wealth as the Socialism it is. Obama has established a threshold for income that, once you pass it, you are making more than your fair share and need to pay more. Currently that threshold is $250,000. But once you say a certain amount is too much, the bar can and will always be lowered. When Obama can't pay for his plans, the bar will become $200,000, then $175,000, then $125,000, and on down. Not to mention the fact that this discourages entrepreneurship, and as people approach the threshold they seek for loopholes to avoid going over the limit. In fact, it has been shown that even families making just $45,000 a year will be adversely affected by Obama's plan. Bad idea.

McCain made none of this clear. He had some good moments, but he needed to put this one in the bag. Early. He could have. He didn't. And if he doesn't get his act together, this country may very well try Socialism for the very first time in a big way. With control of the Executive and both Legislative bodies, the minority will not be able to stem the tide.

The better looking, younger, more articulate man emerges as the winner. No matter how truly wrong he is on substance, the independent voter is looking at the appearance of leadership. Advantage Obama.