Headline writers' post-debate word of the day: "cool"
October 16, 2008 9:30 am ET by Eric Boehlert
"Aggressive Underdog vs. Cool Counterpuncher" (Washington Post)
"McCain Brings Heat, Obama Stays Mr. Cool" (Chicago Sun-Times)
"Analysis: McCain Intense, Obama Maybe Too Cool" (Boston Globe)
"Debate Sees An Aggressive McCain and a Cool Obama" (The Hill)
"A fiesty McCain, a cool Obama, and appeals to 'Joes' everywhere" (Christian Science Monitor)
"McCain seemed energized; Obama kept cool" (Denver Post)
If you consider John Kerry's campaign. Somehow he wasn't able to carry it, no fire, no strike back, was one field of thought. Somehow Obama's calmness is connecting positively.
He's doing a better job of it, the financial situation is causing concern and focus in the population. Third leg is how much influence the memory of previous campaigns, uncertain, but I think it does have some weight.