During the upcoming debates, will Obama be able to take the gloves

[hedgehog]

off or will he have to hold back lest there be a sympathy vote for McCain?

James Fallows was on Talk if the Nation today and he said that Obama was much sharper in his debates with Keyes than he was during the primaries. To me it's obvious that Obama was walking a line between emerging victorious and wounding someone who might be the nominee in place of him.

[babylonsister]

1. I think he'll take the gloves off; there's no longer any risk of

annoying Dems, he has a lot more experience under his belt since the primaries, and he has a lot riding on this.

But he'll remove them gracefully.

[WeDidIt]

2. I watched the Obama-Keyes Debates

Obama sandbagged in every debate in the primaries, and he never once took the gloves off.

He'll go after McSame strong.

[Thrill]

3. He couldn't be that tough on Hillary

One, because he's a man debating a woman and secondly, there was nothing to disagree with Hillary on. They pretty much agree on everything. Thats why it was so stupid to keep having those debates.

[berni_mccoy]

4. Obama is not going to hold back on McCain.

Obama did the right thing in holding back against fellow Dems. He'll do the right thing and expose McCain for the fake he is. Obama will destroy him. In a very logical, easy-to-understand way.

[Diamonique]

5. Remember the meeting he had with his staff after he had clinched the required delegates?

Once he won the nomination, he's the only thing that can stop another Republican from getting the White House. He told them he *has* to win. There is no other option.

He will take the gloves off.