One Debate Down: Will We Know Who Won?
Posted Sep 27, 2008 at 8:39 AM by Maurice Berger
One debate down. Three to go. PollTrack cautions gainst reading too much into public opinion surveys over the next few days. Momentum over the past week has gone modestly in Obama's direction in a number of battleground states. In the ten days before that, McCain pulled into a small lead nationally and improved his standing in some of these states. In the absence of a startling blooper or knock-out punch--neither of which appears to have happened in last night's debate--the lead may remain with Obama. Still, the political unconscious is a complex and unpredictable part of the formation of voter sentiment. Yes, the next few days of polling may reveal something approximating an early response to the debate. More likely, it will continue to reflect an electorate that is uncertain and anxious, especially in the midst of--and now I quote both candidates--the "worst economic crisis in our lifetime." Right now, this anxiety appears to be benefiting the Democrat. But down the road, the question remains: Did something--a particular answer, a style, a mannerism, psychological quirk, or tick--work its way into unconscious perceptions about the candidates? And could this "something" eventually blow the race open?
