Debate: Compare and Contrast

The gloves may have been finally off but it was hardly the clash of titans everyone was looking for. The second presidential debate held in Nashville had both McCain and Obama keeping their noses clean, although John McCain found it difficult to say the O word and simply called Barack Obama 'That One' on several occasions.   The closing comments by both were heartfelt and patriotic, but also well rehearsed to the point one felt spontaneity was absent from the cast list. Even Obama's relaxed 'informal' pose, perched nonchalantly on his stool while McCain spoke, revealed probably hours of media training to reach that level of cool, laid-back informality and ran the risk of portraying him as some kind of Saturday evening, chat show host.   For those analysing more than just the rhetoric, both candidates offered interesting insights.  From Mr Cool to Mr Old, the body language was telling.  Similarly, the small, town hall environment theoretically suits John McCain, who likes to pace up and down the carpet, more than Barack Obama, but the proximity of the camera only served to underline his advancing years and stiff movements.  There remains one last presidential debate before the election..