Tonight’s debate will be the most unusual of the four scheduled debates in this election cycle because of its format: Townhall-style. Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama will appear before an audience of about 150 undecided voters with NBC’s Tom Brokaw moderating. Questions will come from Brokaw, audience members and some from the Internet.
It’s a format McCain feels favors him because he lives for interaction with the crowd, but it also carries with it minefields. If you end up in a tit-for-tat or allow a question to obviously get under your skin, the performance turns off the audience.
Chances are, though, that won’t happen. According to Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun-Times, tonight will be likely playing baseball without bats or playing two-hand touch football instead of full contact:
Under the deal, the moderator may not ask followups or make comments. The person who asks the question will not be allowed a follow-up either, and his or her microphone will be turned off after the question is read. A camera shot will only be shown of the person asking — not reacting.
While there will be director’s chairs (with backs and foot rests), McCain and Obama will be allowed to stand — but they can’t roam past their “designated area” to be marked on the stage. McCain and Obama are not supposed to ask each other direct questions.
WHY NOT?!!!
Don’t expect much beyond talking points and infomercial-type answers tonight. And what if one of these candidates distorts or lies about the other’s record? Brokaw’s not allowed to follow up? The candidates can’t ask each other questions? I guess the word “accountability” won’t be part of this debate. They’ll snipe at one another, but that happens in every debate. The rules are very disappointing.
