Say goodbye to the debate podium

The presidential debate commission is recommending that all the debates be podium-free. In two of three debates, the candidates would be seated at a table, and in the third, a town hall debate, they would have stools and be able to walk around to interact with the audience.

This format would yield Barack's height advantage in 2 of 3 debates, but what it really brings to mind is a quirky little observation that I've had: Barack seems to do much, much better when he's sitting at a table than when he is standing behind a podium.

In 2008, there were five debates at tables (New Hampshire, Las Vegas, Hollywood, Austin, and Cleveland) and two with podiums (Myrtle Beach and Philadelphia). Other than his New Hampshire debate, I think Barack won all of the sitting debates, though the Austin one might have been a draw. He got pummeled in both of the standing debates. (Actually, South Carolina had a portion that was seated, and during that portion Barack was at his best.)

So my advice to whoever works on these things: give up that height advantage and keep 'em sitting!

Update: debrazza offered a convincing dissent in the comments:

I think a podium would actually be a major advantage for Obama. This is a clear advantage for McCain. While Obama did look more relaxed sitting down, particularly with the "reject and denounce" line, I think the moment that won him Iowa was when he was standing up and Hillary was cackling and said, "I'd like to hear that" in response to a question about why he has so many ex-Clintonites advising him and he said, "And I look forward to you advising me too Hillary". In my mind, that moment sealed the deal for his whole candidacy and he was standing up.

McCain is dead wood standing. If Obama is bad standing, McCain can only be worse. I think this is a bad idea for a number of reasons, but first and foremost, Obama needs to present himself in more formal settings, not less formal settings. Having BBQ cookout debates out the back of a wagon wheel only helps McCain because it plays to his strength and does not give voters the opportunity to see Obama is a highly presidential setting against his opponent. Behind a podium who looks better and more presidential, Obama or McCain?