Affability, Affect and perception

[cali]

Americans may like tough, but they don't like mean and nasty. Think of bush in both 2000 and 2004. Think of Reagan and Clinton. Americans love sunny. Even when McCain threw out the cliche about America's best days being ahead of it, he sounded peevish.

McCain was prickly; he grimaced over and over again. He clenched his teeth in anger. He couldn't make eye contact with his opponent. His body language was tight and reinforced his angry demeanor. And it's these non-verbal cues that will linger. They don't fit our pre-conceptions about what is Presidential. That, more than anything that was said, will sway undecided voters.

[madaboutharry]

1. Chris Matthews in the late night program

called McCain a TROLL. He then said "do we want to look at that for the next four years or do we want to look at someone who is gracious?"