2016 Postmortem

mojo2012

(290 posts) Fri Oct 12, 2012, 01:05 AM Oct 2012

Can someone explain to me

All week and tonight, the talk is about how and what President Obama needs to do in the next debate. But the next debate is a town hall format. So the strategy I would think can't be the same as far as how he can be more aggressive in his rebuttal to Romney. So my question is, if a question comes from the audience and Romney or president Obama answers, then do they get a chance to give a rebuttal or just answer the question to the person asking.

10 replies

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Can someone explain to me (Original Post) mojo2012 Oct 2012 OP

Generally, the questions asked are to both candidates ... not one. Drunken Irishman Oct 2012 #1

Sometimes it is easier to decimate an apponent when speaking of them in the third person..... left on green only Oct 2012 #2

"My opponent thinks... NCLefty Oct 2012 #3

I'll put it simply: woolldog Oct 2012 #4

Obama also needs to connect with the viewers, like Joe did. begin_within Oct 2012 #5

Oh yes! Thanks! for reminding me of that. Thing #8 that I liked about Joe Biden's work this evening. patrice Oct 2012 #6

But... since it's a town hall style debate, he must address the person who asked the question begin_within Oct 2012 #7

Absolutely. fugop Oct 2012 #8

Obama and Biden MSMITH33156 Oct 2012 #9

Both Parties or mstinamotorcity2 Oct 2012 #10

Drunken Irishman

(34,857 posts)

1. Generally, the questions asked are to both candidates ... not one.

Reply to mojo2012 (Original post)

Fri Oct 12, 2012, 01:08 AM

Oct 2012

left on green only

(1,484 posts)

2. Sometimes it is easier to decimate an apponent when speaking of them in the third person.....

Reply to mojo2012 (Original post)

Fri Oct 12, 2012, 01:40 AM

Oct 2012

.....partially because it is more difficult for them to respond.

NCLefty

(3,678 posts)

3. "My opponent thinks...

Reply to mojo2012 (Original post)

Fri Oct 12, 2012, 01:45 AM

Oct 2012

that we should all eat babies."

You know, the usual :p

woolldog

(8,791 posts)

4. I'll put it simply:

Reply to mojo2012 (Original post)

Fri Oct 12, 2012, 01:50 AM

Oct 2012

he needs to out-alpha Mitt.

Just like what Biden did to Ryan tonight.

begin_within

(21,551 posts)

5. Obama also needs to connect with the viewers, like Joe did.

Reply to mojo2012 (Original post)

Fri Oct 12, 2012, 01:56 AM

Oct 2012

I thought Joe was very effective when he addressed the camera directly - and in a genuine way, not a phony way like Palin's wink 4 years ago. I think he connected with senior citizens and thus probably helped the cause in Florida. Obama cannot seem distant or aloof or focused too much on Romney. He needs to reach out to the voters watching on TV and connect with them.

patrice

(47,992 posts)

6. Oh yes! Thanks! for reminding me of that. Thing #8 that I liked about Joe Biden's work this evening.

Reply to begin_within (Reply #5)

Fri Oct 12, 2012, 02:00 AM

Oct 2012

begin_within

(21,551 posts)

7. But... since it's a town hall style debate, he must address the person who asked the question

Reply to patrice (Reply #6)

Fri Oct 12, 2012, 10:28 AM

Oct 2012

I think it's important that he answer the question directly to the audience member who asked it. He can't seem like he just picked off the question from them and ran with it, which I think is what Romney will do. He has to make sure the person who asked feels like they were answered personally.

fugop

(1,828 posts)

8. Absolutely.

Reply to begin_within (Reply #7)

Fri Oct 12, 2012, 10:32 AM

Oct 2012

Obama needs to speak directly to each person who asks a question. He needs to connect the way he always done. I think aggression won't work in this format. He'll have to save that for the foreign policy debate. In a town hall, you've got to reach out to people and make them feel like you care about them. That's usually an Obama strength.

MSMITH33156

(879 posts)

9. Obama and Biden

Reply to mojo2012 (Original post)

Fri Oct 12, 2012, 10:36 AM

Oct 2012

are very different personalities. Biden is a fiery "fighter". Obama is not. He is much more uplifting and calm. If he acts like Biden, it will look ridiculous.

He needs to be himself. Be the President that everyone knows. Be engaging. The big problem the left had with him in the first debate was he didn't counter Romney's BS. The big problem the rest of the country had was that he looked like he didn't want to be there. Smile, be happy, be engaging, sympathize with the questioners, look like you care. If Romney wants go attack dog again, and Obama quickly dismisses his lies then pivots to being sympathetic to the questioner, it will come off real well.

All Obama needs to do is remind people why they actually like him. Most people do. If he does that, he will be fine.

mstinamotorcity2

(1,451 posts)

10. Both Parties or

Reply to mojo2012 (Original post)

Fri Oct 12, 2012, 10:54 AM

Oct 2012

maybe one candidate is asked a question. Then they get to respond. One of the POTUS' strenghts is ability to connect with the Average American's life and story. Romney can't he can only imagine.

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