Edition: U.S. | Arabic | Set Pref
October 6, 2008
Posted: 1503 GMT

Maybe he’s nervous that election day is now less than one month away and he’s running out of time to win. Or maybe he’s disappointed with how he did in the first presidential debate. But John McCain is paying much more attention to this week’s encounter with Barack Obama than he did the first time they met. McCain traveled and campaigned actively before last month’s debate, squeezing in preparation time between other obligations.

Is John McCain getting nervous?
Is John McCain getting nervous?

A CNN/Opinion Research poll found that 51 percent of those who saw that debate thought Obama came out on top. Just 38 percent said John McCain did better.

This time, the Washington Post reports that McCain is preparing the conventional way. He’s virtually cleared his schedule and gone into seclusion in his home state of Arizona. He’s had practice debates with a former Congressman, Rob Portman, standing in for Obama.

Obama is preparing in Asheville, North Carolina. Former State Department official Greg Craig, who portrayed McCain before the last debate, is on the ‘debate camp’ team again.

We’ll keep you posted as we get more details.

Editor’s Note: See the next presidential debate – Live – on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 0100 GMT | 0900 HK (Tues. 9pm ET). CNN International viewers can also see replays at 0900 GMT | 1700 HK and 1600 GMT | 0000 (Thu) HK.CNN’s Jonathan Mann will be blogging during the McCain-Obama debate. Join the discussion!

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Filed under: General • Politics


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Gwats   October 6th, 2008 1628 GMT

Putting a little polish on a 51 Nash means you have a junker with a shine… like McCain’s campaign.

john steward   October 6th, 2008 1638 GMT

John McCain has nothing to offer to people of America and So does Sarah Palin. They are not promising anything. A potential aspirant of presidential post should atleast offer a biat to the voter or a vision of better country if they get elected. but John/Sarah offer no such thing.

All they have been doing for past few weeks is conduct personal attacks on Obama, which is despicable. Obama/Biden on other hand have talked ideology, policy and atleast tried to explain people what would happen if they get elected.

Whoever, gets elected will have tough time being president, since next four years are going to be tough recession period. A recession period coupled with clueless president will spell doom to American economy and will see the raise of dictatorships like Russia/China/Pakistan. The axis of evil will spread its wings across the globe.

american people deserve such a big economic disaster is because it is they who elected clueless bush for 2 concececutive terms. Another term to yet another clueless McCain will mean disaster for economy.

john steward   October 6th, 2008 1648 GMT

McCain says he puts country first. but has he talked about country at all in last few weeks? He has not. He has the perfect oppotunity to do so and serve the country, but he is using the time to attack Obama. What a shame!

He could have choosen many good people in the repulican party who are qualified for vice-presidential position who could have put the country first. But McCain chose to put himself first and chose Sarah. He did not choose Governer Sarah Palin, but the goreous light talking Sarah. He is not putting the country first at all!

He went to washington suspending his campaign to talk economy. But he did not give any good idea on how to improve the economy, but he cosistently attacked barack obama for partisan politicis. he couldnot influence enough repulican congressemen to even vote for the bailout. He was a sideliner in washington and nobody cared for him.

Who is caring for this country? Why does politics have to be so silly? Why can’t real issues be discussed? Why does mccain have to use a lady to attack Obama?

Anthony   October 6th, 2008 1709 GMT

Honestly, I don’t even think its worth the time to give McCain any chance to speak about anything. He has done nothing and now will be either playing off the plans Obama and Biden have formed to make himself look better. I feel al ittle more safe because I actually am starting to see other Americans caring about their country and fellow people by realizing he is BY FAR NOT the right choice for our President. I hope Obama wins and Pray he does because honestly its it horrifying in what the Republicans have done to this country and will continue to do. Its time for Change and we need help as Americans and I can’t believe that Americans are not being ignorant this time to and are facing the facts and realizing this is something more serious then they could ever know. Especially in the fact that McCain is now just a liar just like his boy Bush. 477 times voting for the same policies as Bush doesn’ t seem like country first to me. It actually seems to me like wallet first and whatever with us the people who make this country what it is. So please for all of our sakes don’t vote for the Republicans. I am an independent and realize this… I hope you all can make the same assumption just by what we have been through and what we are going through

ojong   October 6th, 2008 1712 GMT

you can see panic all around McCain and Palin. They seem not to have anything to offer only the garbage they roll around. Their smear campaign is nauseating and it makes this election look more of child’s play than a means of choosing the leader of the most powerful country in the world. This diversion or maybe outright surrender. Is this the recipe they will have to use if elected to confront Ahmedinejad or Putin? What do they have to say about the keating5?

Daniel   October 6th, 2008 2051 GMT

I was really trying to give both sides equal service, as I was undecided. Palin barely survived her debate because Biden was acting as restrained as can be. McCain has come across as tired. I can spew GOP rhetoric as good as anyone else, but I expect more.
It is a shame.

o'kay   October 6th, 2008 2306 GMT

Oh please, you really think the media is not biased or meddlesome in this election? From Hillary to Palin and on..they are ask questions that are so weak and transparent. What do you read? Do they ask that of the men? It was condesending, like people in Alaska read?
I am amazed over the stupid questions.

Kathy   October 7th, 2008 211 GMT

We heard enough talking from both Candidates. Where is the Action?

Emmy   October 7th, 2008 1026 GMT

Obama has won what do we want again for us to see what a man who has a something to offer for his country

Frequent Traveler   October 7th, 2008 1411 GMT

Putting religous beliefs and a tendency to be conservative aside, I have come to the conclusion that the GOP no longer understands the needs and wants of the American people or cares how the peoples of other nations perceive our country. In a short eight years, Bush and company have destroyed our image and good standing in the world, made reckless and sometimes gruesome decisions contrary to popular beliefs and the ethics of humanity, and helped send out economy into a tailspin that will take years to recover. I may not agree with all things perceived by Obama, but see the potential for the resolution of some attractive old ideas, the recognition that our image in the world needs to be renewed, as well as a swing toward some fresh ideas not possible in this country without a realization that diversity is necessary.

Alexis   October 7th, 2008 1554 GMT

I feel sorry for the people in the U.S. We can never get any serious answers from our “only” running presidentials. They fuss like children. I wish we could throw them out and pick new candiates…Is it to late for that?

A Concerned Voter   October 7th, 2008 1817 GMT

Media has never been so biased!!! As it has been for quite sometime now, any news or issue that favor Obama is constantly being played in all their programs. The media has lampooned and lambasted McCain and Palin like no other, while Obama has hardly been criticized. McCain is constantly pressured to defend his stand, while Obama is left free to ignore the pounding questions that need to be answered. This, I believe, is meant to create a mindset that Obama is politically correct(?), that he is winning(?), that his lead over McCain, even if its a measly five pts., is irreversible(?). That’s what i call “Brainwashing” the American public.

kathy V.   October 7th, 2008 1837 GMT

I am looking forward to the 2nd debate. I want McCain to put Obama in his rightful place. I want McCain to expose to the world that Obama is just an eloquent speaker who has been adequately coached, to pretend that he is the answer to America’s problems despite being a mediocre politician with no track record to speak of. I want McCain to prove that he is the Man for the Job; The Man on Top; The Man in Charge. Not an Obama who will readily turn over the reigns to Biden once he becomes President bec he just ain’t ready.
Unlike what the Obama camp has been professing, i believed that It is Obama who will be more of the same bec Obama (like Bush), has no experience and no proven record of achievement. If the last 8 years of Bush were devastating for many, the next 4 will be disastrous for all under an Obama presidency. I hope America realizes this. Don’t fall for Obama’s rhetoric and Charisma, it will bring us doom. Lets go for the tried and tested. Vote McCain this November!!!

paul chapman   October 8th, 2008 1230 GMT

I am cosistantly amazed at the attitudes of those who blame Pres. Bush for every thing he started katrina, pushed rita into a back up and surely caused ike to reinforce the meaning of control. The new administration will be hampered by the failure of thinking americans who let greed get the best of them at all levels. The trash that these candidates put out is a good example of what they think americans want to hear. Georgie is the problem and when he leaves and the crap hits the fan they may say wow we had no idea. Clinton was a cameo sucess because he did not know anything and as a result he road the crest of the wave and now he is a national hero with monicas stains on his hands but thats ok he was only the president at the time. Obama is a rock star and may win but mark my words the excuses will fly all to georgie because he started it all and in reallity we all played a part. But he was the president at the time. The largest hedge fund that supports health insurance and has saved americans billions was run by chaney and the results are obvious.
Iraq was pushing hard to destroy the relationship that the middle east countries had with the usa and hussien wanted to control all like hamenijad does and the war stopped him but the focus has been lost because obama says lets get out and when he succeeds he will rue the day for his thoughts.Neither candidate has a true picture of the situation and we will all suffer for their short sidedness. The real attitude is that obama cant do any worse but do we really want to live with that attitude?Not taking federal funding for the election will prove what we all dont know because obama will owe many and they will collect.
I for one and maybe a large contingent of others would like to say see I told you so but we cannot afford that approach but we may get it .
paul

BJ Couch   October 13th, 2008 1947 GMT

The Media has given Barack Hussian Obama their BLESSINGS, so Senator McCain does not have a chance, regardless if he performed a miracle, the Media is against him and the Republicans.
Sadly, Senator McCain would be the best one term President with good plans, not all are great but what President or Presidents were perfect, tell me one please.

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