But I truly think last night will be one of the most important nights in the campaign. Most folks I know didn't watch...they're solidly for Obama and didn't need another 30 minutes to convince them. I imagine most of the solid McCain supporters also refused to watch, thinking Obama would just slick-talk his way through another campaign commercial.
So, who does that leave as the audience? Basically, the folks who are still unsure...but are still willing to seek out new information to help make their decision. The stagecraft and A+ production values made for a compelling half-hour of television...but, more importantly, Obama was able to lay out clearly his own plans and show had they could help struggling folks in towns all across America.
Lunkheads and racists (and, to be fair, self-important hipsters) don't care particularly about these issues...they're voting on their prejudices or cohort pressures. The folks tuning in last night, on the other hand, were the ones who were still willing to listen to a new vision for America, still willing to be convinced that this young black guy really could be what we need. When those folks saw the old lady putting lotion on her arthritic fingers or the young dad reading to his daughter or the 72-year-old man putting on his WalMart vest, they saw themselves and their futures...but they also saw their hopes. This half-hour laid out better than I have ever seen Obama's vision of and for America.
I know I'll be watching this again and again in the coming years:
I'm heading to Nazareth, PA, this weekend with my wife and a couple friends (including Geoff, this blog's A-Number-One commenter). It is Thursday. The Election is on Tuesday. I could not be more hopeful for America.
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