Obama vs Mc Cain debate

Here they are, pay attention and don't miss it



Obama looked right at us

The most effective leaders are those who convey charisma and confidence. They are inspirational. They connect with others and stimulate interest. They show emotion. They are labeled "visionaries." Nixon's sickly appearance, Dukakis's lack of emotion, and the nonverbal blunders of Bush and Gore in their respective debates aren't what people associate with charismatic, inspirational, visionary leaders. Voters saw and heard these mistakes on TV, and they played a role in each candidates' eventual loss.

Given the history of debates and what we know about nonverbal behavior, I was looking for a misstep on either McCain's or Obama's part Friday night. While neither man really did anything "wrong" there were undeniable nonverbal missteps, abnormalities, and differences. The first thing that struck me was how Senator Obama talked straight into the camera during his opening statement. Via eye contact, he was clearly attempting to communicate his message not just to the audience in a Mississippi hall, but also to the millions watching on TV. Obama also looked straight into the camera near the end of the debate, when he talked about his father, how he got his name, and how Americans can make it if they try.

McCain addressed the moderator and the audience in the hall. From his opening statement, he might have missed a golden opportunity to try to connect with the millions watching on TV. The next President, like any leader, must connect with his followers. Obama did a better job of connecting with the TV audience.

More to Lose than gain

McCain's habit of staring straight ahead helped him look Presidential, as if he could take on any criticism, wait his turn, and respond. Some voters may be turned off by Obama's staring at McCain, which may lead them to see Obama as less likable, much like Gore's sighs or eye-rolling when he was "silently" awaiting his turn to speak after Bush.

In this year's hotly contested Presidential race, nonverbal behavior during the debates will likely make a lasting impact on voters. Research I have conducted with Marshall Duke, a psychology professor at Emory University, shows that nonverbal communication may not help you win an election, but it can definitely contribute to your losing one.

During a study conducted in 2000, we asked participants to rank the outcome of an eventual mayoral election based solely by observing silent video of each of four candidates' opening speeches at a debate. More participants correctly guessed who finished last in the election than guessed who finished first. The person who finished last wore a black suit and tie with a red shirt and rose-colored glasses, which hurt his ability to make eye contact with viewers. His posture was slack. The results of our research echoed what has been borne out repeatedly in Presidential debates: Candidates pay a big price for poor nonverbal communication.
Hunting the big flaw

From a nonverbal perspective, both McCain and Obama did well in Friday night's event. There was no obvious nonverbal blunder. Overall, Obama seemed more polished and practiced than McCain. This, along with the fact that he was better able to connect with the TV audience, leads me to believe that he slightly edged McCain as "winner" from a nonverbal perspective. But this by no means implies that Obama is guaranteed to be our next President.

In the next two debates, I will see if McCain can connect better with the voters through eye contact. I will check to see if Obama can look less agitated while waiting to talk. I also will look for evidence that both candidates can respect each other's time, and not interrupt. Most important, I'm going to be looking and listening for a fatal nonverbal flaw that could cost one of them the election.

The U.S. public is looking for a strong, confident, visionary, inspirational leader who can connect with them. Neither candidate can afford a nonverbal mishap that would result in his being characterized as not being that sort of leader. It may not be the candidate with the most effective nonverbal communication who wins. History and research both show that it's more likely that the candidate with the biggest nonverbal mistake will lose the 2008 election. Just ask Nixon, Dukakis, the elder Bush, or Gore.

source : http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/sep2008/ca20080929_440972_page_1.htm and page_2.htm