Anyone else think McCain looked incredibly nervous and uncomfortable last night?

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

I'm somewhat surprised the commentators didn't pick up on it, but if you watched McCain's body language last night, he really did not look like he was prepared, comfortable, or assured of what he was saying last night. If you get the chance to watch the debate again, mute the TV and check out how McCain was constantly doing the "I have to pee!" foot shuffling, and he practically did pirouettes last night, spinning around as if he was continually telling himself "I must make eye contact with everyone." For someone allegedly having an advantage in a town hall format, he really didn't look like he thought he had one.

[mscuedawg]

1. YES!!!! He had that constipated smile on his face 99% of the time

that Obama was speaking...he so knows he's toast...

[Hepburn]

Yep, like someone put out boxers and not his usual jockeys. n/t

[kick-ass-bob]

2. I said that to my wife...

about as many times as McCain said "my friends" :D

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. He did a lot of pacing around - sign of nervousness?

[Essene]

12. that's his style. he loves town hall meetings. however, he was hobbling and breathing hard

there was def something up with him...

he was not as comfortable as ive seen him before, and i dont mean "stress" but actual physical discomfort.

[RT Atlanta]

4. blinking and out of breath

his shoulders were clinched up too (you could see that the moment he walked onto the stage).

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

7. I noticed his breath too.

He seemed very labored - perhaps even ill.

[Essene]

9. within the first few minutes, he was struggling physically... absolutely

it was very subtle, but im sure a large number of people noticed it.

his hobble was worse than usual, as well.

[Rockholm]

5. He looked really old and was walking haltingly.

[No Elephants]

6. To me, he looked WEIRD and too yellow. Also, blinking in body language means lying, but maybe he

has bad fitting contacts. He looks like a very old rabbit with jaundice.

[SheilaT]

8. Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow

certainly picked up on it.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

16. Figures they would - they're the best. (nt)

[schmuls]

10. I thought he looked scared shitless when he walked out!

[Terran]

23. I thought that too

He gave some really odd facial and hand gestures, which I thought evidenced a high level of nervousness.

And while I know this is probably due to age and his 'disability', every time he walked around the stage he seemed on the verge of falling; he literally tottered.

[tekisui]

11. His voice quivered a lot, too.

[C_U_L8R]

13. At a few points I was worried he was gonna pass out

He was all wheezy and fidgety... if not a health issue, it was certainly psychological.
He must have been freaking out inside.

Don't blame him for scooting right out of there.. he knew he blew it bigtime.

[Essene]

15. health... and while i dont take joy in seeing it... i think it had a huge impact on viewers

personally, id like to see the candidates at their best.

in mccain's case, his age/health is a real issue tho.

[Catshrink]

14. Yeah.. after talking trash about Obama he actually had to face him.

[seemunkee]

17. But he does great in a town hall setting

Isn't that what his campaign was saying a few months ago?
Of course this one wasn't filled with synchophants.

[MiniMe]

18. I thought he looked incredibly old

[gblady]

19. AP news had some great photos....

[izzybeans]

20. He sounds like the pedophile old man in Family Guy.

He looked creepy and sounded even more so.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

22. "Boys, boys, we can settle this like reasonable and sexy teenagers...

Whoever swallows the most Tylenol PM wins!"

[izzybeans]

24. Brings a whole new meaning to "My friends...

I've worked across party lines."

[SmokingJacket]

21. He was about to bust out of his jacket, too.

I know it's hard to find a jacket that fits when you're a short, pot-bellied old man, but doesn't he have the bucks for a tailor??

[Window]

25. Deep in his little heart, he is jealous and afraid of Barack. He knows it's over.

[LibertyLover]

26. Both he and Cindy looked uncomfortable last night

My husband and I watched the debate and we could not believe how the McCains behaved after it was over. Cindy's body language was especially interesting, with her hands firmly clasped behind her back and staying away from the audience seating areas as if she might catch something nasty if she came too close. McCain's posture was stiff and awkward too. In the lead-up to this debate all you heard was how McCain excelled in town hall settings talking to ordinary Americans. If his performance last night was excelling, then the pundits and I have differing opinions on what that term means.