By Susan Redden
sredden@joplinglobe.com
Neither candidate landed the definitive “knockout punch” in the first presidential debate on Friday, according to four Joplin-area residents.
Both candidates performed well, said residents contacted after watching the 90-minute exchange that focused on foreign policy and national security.
But two debate watchers who favor John McCain said answers from the Republican candidate demonstrated his years of experience.
The two others, who support Barack Obama, said he did perform well in an arena where he was predicted to be lacking.
“I felt like McCain was speaking out of his knowledge,” said Buck Derryberry, of Oronogo. “You could tell he lived that stuff. But, I think Obama was well-prepared. I expected him to struggle without a TelePrompTer, but he didn’t.”
David Smith, of Joplin, said he believed Obama’s answers demonstrated an understanding of international affairs.
“He had a higher bar to clear, but I think the coherence of his answers made him the winner,” he said. “The McCain campaign kept saying he only speaks well with a TelePrompTer: I bet they wish they hadn’t said that now.”
McCain’s grasp of international affairs demonstrates he would be the better leader, said Ray Downen, of Joplin.
“There’s no question in my mind he has the experience to be the better president,” he said.
“But, I didn’t feel Obama showed any lack of capability.”
Judith Dixon, of Joplin, said she saw no clear winner or loser from the debate.
“McCain was good about talking about what he had done in the past; he definitely pointed out his experience,” she said. “But you could tell that Obama knew what he was talking about.”
Smith said Obama’s answers demonstrated a broader and deeper grasp of international affairs, “and how so much of it is inter-related, and you have to address the system as well as the parts.
“McCain seemed to have blinders on, with is only focus on Iraq.”
Smith said he is a Republican, and supported Mitt Romney in the primary. But he said he has to part company with McCain because of his stance on Iraq.
“We took our attention off (Osama) bin Laden at a critical time, and put it on Hussein,” he said. “It was a mistake.”
Downen said he strongly agrees with McCain on the U.S. presence in Iraq and that setting a date to withdraw “would be a tragic mistake.”
Residents said neither candidate answered sufficiently on how he would respond to the current economic crisis.
“They didn’t have a direct answer but it grated on me that McCain just kept talking about spending on earmarks when he wants to cut taxes for big business,” said Smith.
“Neither one wanted to admit that they would have to make spending cuts,” said Dixon.
Next
The next presidential debate is on Oct. 7, from Nashville, Tenn.
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Residents: Neither debater scored ‘knockout’ punch
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