An uneven record

Obama has a tendency to overintellectualise and to lecture, befitting his training as a lawyer and law professor. He exudes disdain for the sound bites that some deride as trivialising political debates, but that have become a central part of scoring them. He tends to the earnest and humorless when audiences seem to crave passion and personality. He frequently rises above the mire of political combat when the battle calls for engagement.

This was seen most starkly at last month8217;s forum at Saddleback Church, where he and John McCain were interviewed back to back by the evangelical church8217;s pastor. Obama gave long, discursive answers to questions on loaded topics like abortion and personal moral failings, while McCain stole the show with earthy anecdotes and humour.

8220;Obama clearly knows how to float like a butterfly,8221; said Alan Schroeder, who studies media and the presidency at Northeastern University, 8220;but he needs to work on the sting-like-a-bee part8221;.

One of Obama8217;s worst moments came in the first Democratic debate, in South Carolina in April 2007. The candidates were asked how they would respond to a new series of terrorist attacks. Obama gave a rambling reply on emergency response, intelligence flaws and the importance of engaging 8220;the international community.8221; He had to ask for a second chance to answer the question.