I wasn’t able to catch today’s debate live, but NBC30 thoughtfully has streaming video archived.
I have reached an important conclusion: I don’t really like any of the jokers running.
Lieberman performed better this time than he did in the pre-primary debate, but he still struck me as a slimy and somewhat whiny politician.
Lamont didn’t seem as unprepared, but he still strikes me as a bit of a nut. I admire his gumpshun and his idealism, and I’ll give him credit for having grown beyond just an anti-war, anti-Lieberman candidate…but I can’t help but wonder how the heck we’d pay for everything he wants to do.
And Schlesinger… you know, a major party candidate who is polling at only 4% doesn’t have much to lose in a debate. He certainly took advantage of that fact. He was bold, pulled no punches, and was rather entertaining to listen to. I am particularly fond of his correct discussion of the problem with Social Security (towards the end of the second segment of the streaming video archives), but my brief love for the guy was quickly dissipated by his rather draconian position on immigration policy.
I suspect I’d hate to have him as a senator, but I think Schlesinger won the debate. He might even start beating “undecided” in the polls.
My bet on the outcome in November is that Lieberman will win. Lamont’s main hopes for winning now are, I think:
- Lieberman making a major fumble in the next few weeks, particularly in the debates on Thursday or next Monday;
- Lieberman becoming involved in a scandal;
- Schlessinger pulling enough GOP votes over to his row on the ballot; or
- The next debates being focused almost exclusively on the war.