While Obama is out there fighting for his political life against racism, the radical right, an underhanded Bill Clinton, and I-want-my-Maypo Boomocrats, McCain is engaged in a narrow fight for his political life. He can't seem to win over teleprompters.
He delivered his lines with an ease that suggested a momentary peace with his longtime nemesis, the teleprompter. (He relied on a belt-and-suspenders approach, with text scrolling down screens to his left and right, and on a big TV set in front of him.)
But when Mr. McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, came to the intended sound bite of his speech — the part about reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil — he hit a slick.
“I have set before the American people an energy plan, the Lex-eegton Project,” Mr. McCain said, drawing a quick breath and correcting himself. “The Lex-ing-ton Proj-ect,” he said slowly. “The Lexington Project,” he repeated. “Remember that name.”
In a town meeting in Cincinnati the next day, Mr. McCain would again slip up on the name of the Massachusetts town, where, he noted, “Americans asserted their independence once before.” He called it “the Lexiggdon Project” and twice tried to fix his error before flipping the name (“Project Lexington”) in subsequent references.
According to the New York Times report, McCain has made a wise move. He has hired the team that turned helped George W. Bush become the orator that he is.
Of course, you have to actually know your subject matter before you can speak clearly about it. That's something Republican candidates have had a hard time learning. It's why Obama's speeches are so impressive.
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