James Fallows provides an insightful take on last night's debate.
His thesis is that Obama's debate style represents the way that he has conducted his campaign, strategically without relying on short term "tactics" or gimmicks. Fallows posits that the emphasis on short term gain has characterized McCain's campaign strategy thus far, and that this was reflected in the debate with McCain's "You don't understand" mantra.
There has been no greater contrast between the Obama and McCain campaigns than the tactical-vs-strategic difference, with McCain demonstrating the primacy of short-term tactics and Obama sticking to a more coherent long-term strategy. And McCain's dismissive comment suggests that he still does not realize this.
Fallows suggests that many of Obama's supporters become frustrated that he acts too gentlemanly and respectful of his opponent. This, however, reflects the long term strategy of the campaign.
But Obama either figured out, or instinctively understood, that the real battle was to make himself seem comfortable, reasonable, responsible, well-versed, and in all ways "safe" and non-outsiderish to the audience just making up its mind about him. (And yes, of course, his being a young black man challenging an older white man complicated everything he did and said, which is why his most wittily aggressive debate performance was against another black man, Alan Keyes, in his 2004 Senate race.)
Partisans on both sides will find something to like in each man's performance. Fallows argues that it is the people who are not particularly interested in politics and who are just tuning in for the debates that will likely more to like in Obama's performance last night. This has been reflected in most of the polls, particularly of independent, undecided voters, who tend to be put off by signs of anger and disrespect, amply on display from McCain last night. In other words, McCain was trying to get Rush Limbaugh's approval by acting the way he did, but it likely misfired with the audience he really needed to reach.
Fallows concludes with the fact that it has often been Democrats that have emphasized short term tactics in past elections, and have been surprised when it hasn't worked, while Republicans have emphasized a broader "core" strategy. This year the shoe is on the other foot and that bodes well for Senator Obama's chances in November.