The debate in body language
Body language experts give Obama a slight edge in Tuesday night's debate, but both candidates score points for showing emotion and the differences in their styles.
One was coiled and ready to spring. The other was typically languid. Even the candidates' clothing choice reflected their mood: John McCain wore an intense red tie, Barack Obama picked out one that was a glacial shade of blue. Obama sat like a jazz musician on his chair, one heel hooked at an angle, while McCain sat as if he might leap up at any moment, or stood impatiently waiting for his turn to speak.
Two body language experts who watched Tuesday night's debate said in interviews that they thought Obama was the clear winner. A third felt it was a draw.
"They both have different styles and are great," said Lillian Glass, a Beverly Hills body language expert. She and the others agreed, however, that McCain showed a side of himself that was missing in the first presidential debate last month.
"It was like the Energizer Bunny had some batteries put in," Glass said. "We have never seen McCain so warm and fuzzy and likable and dynamic. This was the best format for him. He would talk to the people, have direct eye contact. When he reached over to the petty officer and gave him a pat, it was quite touching. I think Sarah Palin has been a great influence on him."
Patti Wood, an Atlanta-based body language expert, said it was too bad the rules called for the candidates to stay within separate zones on the stage and not engage with each other. As a result, she said, she was more struck by "paralanguage" than body language. Paralanguage refers to voice tone, speaking rate and other vocal nuances.
She said McCain was "much more positive and hopeful. His voice would go up and down. Obama started out being very even, not a lot of emotion, where he is typically very energetic and charismatic. In the second half, Obama was angrier, and one of the things we know about what works to persuade people in candidate situations is that anger has a stronger effect than happiness or joy."
Obama had his moment of greatest emotion when, in answer to a question about healthcare, he said he regretted that when his mother was dying of ovarian cancer at 53, she had to spend her last days haggling with her insurance company. Said Glass: "When he talked about his mom, he was wonderful and passionate, he was really real. His hands were up, he was making sincere gestures."
Both Wood and Glass thought that at other times, Obama seemed coached.
