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NEWS : STORIES
With less than three weeks left, Senators John McCain and Barack Obama will face off for the final time Wednesday night (October 15) during a
After a first debate some labeled too tame and last week's town hall (which found the pair mixing it up a bit more but still not going after each other aggressively), the 90-minute Hofstra showdown on domestic issues is the final chance for the senators to make their plea to a nationwide audience. Depending on which polls you believe, McCain is down by as much as 10 points, and Obama is gaining ground in some toss-up states. A lot is at stake for both men, who have toned down some of the more biting attacks of the past few weeks in order to focus on their plans for rescuing the deeply troubled U.S. economy. McCain has vowed to whip Obama's "you know what," while Obama has been eerily mute on his plans, taking the traditional "don't rock the boat" approach of a front-runner. On Wednesday night, the men will be seated at a table within arm's length of each other, which could spark more personal and intense interactions than either of the first two debates. Moderator Bob Schieffer has vowed to cut the candidates off if they don't answer questions directly and will encourage them to speak directly to one another, something the two previous moderators struggled with. As we await the final debate, let's take a look back at our scorecard for the second McCain/Obama showdown and see how the candidates fared — and what's in store for Wednesday night. For McCain Strengths » Second debate: We said he is comfortable in the town-hall-style setting, and he was, but at times McCain appeared to be literally wandering around the stage, and his flat jokes about hair replacement and a reference to Obama as "that one" drew harsh criticism. In the end, while he engaged voters face-to-face, McCain failed to take advantage of his mastery of the town hall. » This debate: McCain has built his reputation on being a fighter that never gives up, and if ever there were a time to lay it all on the line, this is it. Expect McCain to go after Obama's plan to save the economy as more of the same "big-spending liberalism" of the past. Bottom line: McCain has nothing to lose and can only gain points if he is able to plant seeds of doubt in voters' minds. Weaknesses » Second debate: McCain failed to show how his campaign suspension helped usher through the $700 billion bailout package, and his plan to buy up bad mortgages — which he unveiled for the country during the debate — was not well-received. » This debate: McCain has faced criticism — some from his own party — for changing direction several times over the past few weeks in an attempt to steer his campaign ship. He has swung from withering criticism of Obama's ties to 1960s radical William Ayers and questions about the Illinois senator's character — many delivered by vice-presidential running mate Sarah Palin — to telling a crowd this weekend that Obama is a "decent person" with whom he merely disagrees on policy. That comment drew some boos from the audience. Some have even called for dumping Palin from the bill. Being on the ropes means McCain has to be more aggressive and risk coming off as desperate, while Obama can afford to be even-tempered. What He Needs to Do » Second debate: McCain failed to give a clear plan for how he would end the Iraq war, and his plan for mortgages did not fly. He also failed to conclusively show how his economic plan will rescue the country. » This debate: Economy, economy, economy. The next president is going to be facing one of the worst economic situations since the Great Depression, and McCain needs to prove he's the man to lead during that trying time. What You Can Expect to See » Second debate: McCain certainly went after Obama more aggressively on the senator's policies and pointed out several times his belief that Obama's plan will raise taxes on many Americans and small businesses. He also planted the seed that Obama's health care plan will "mandate" coverage for some Americans. While he did not bring up Obama's questionable personal associations from the past, it is possible those issues could show up this time. » This debate: It's unclear if McCain will stick to questioning Obama's policies and readiness or if he will dredge up his past, but some party faithful are hoping he'll do both — and, as he's said before, McCain loves being the underdog and proving the doubters wrong. For Obama Strengths » Second debate: With his lead widening and the race in battleground states like Florida and Ohio tightening, Obama stuck to his plan for economic recovery, pushing hard on his middle-class tax-relief message. » This debate: Now with a comfortable lead and signs that the McCain campaign has lost a bit of focus, Obama can afford to offer more details on how his economic plan will work. He can also attempt to cast doubt in voters' minds about McCain's ability to lead in a crisis — something Obama already began doing last week, when he referred to his rival as "erratic and uncertain." Weaknesses » Second debate: McCain effectively put some doubt in voters' minds about how much Obama's economic plans would cost and raised questions about how he would pay for them. He also made a strong point of discussing his own history of bipartisan legislation, while claiming that Obama almost always votes along party lines. » This debate: With the bill for the government bailout growing larger by the day, Obama will likely face renewed questions about what programs he is willing to cut and by how much — questions he has offered few specifics on so far. With McCain trailing, Obama — who sometimes comes off as professorial and a bit detached — might also be unprepared for the kind of in-person slugfest he has not yet faced in the general election, as McCain attempts to turn the tide, forcing Obama to hit back in a way he has not always been comfortable with. What He Needs to Do » Second debate: Obama weathered the storm of McCain's attacks fairly well last week — never getting angry but forcefully pushing back and counter-attacking. » This debate: Slow and steady. No major gaffes or "gotcha" lines, no getting goaded into saying something he might regret, and he will likely be declared the victor. What You Can Expect to See » Second debate: Obama did crank up his aggressiveness and repeatedly attempted to link McCain to the failed policies of the Bush presidency. » This debate: Look for Obama to point to McCain's recent pivots as proof that the Arizona senator is unreliable in a crisis. Check back Wednesday night for a wrap-up of the debate, and head over to the Newsroom blog to weigh in on how you think the candidates did. This report is provided by MTV News
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