RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Calif., Feb. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --
Representing a unique combination of the TV shows Survivor and American Idol,
presidential candidates Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama duked it out in a
Democratic debate that revealed the speaking skills of each. According to
Toastmasters experts, "Obama won by a nose" and scored points with silence and
verbal pacing.
Monday night's debate for their party's nomination was fought not with marked
policy differences but with roundhouse punches in the form of filler words,
like "ahs" and "ums" and "you knows," and with silence wielded like a weapon.
Toastmasters International asked three veteran members and public speaking
experts to analyze the presentation skills of Clinton and Obama. Here's what
they found:
Ann Hastings, a past International Director of Toastmasters International,
found both candidates to be "concise, well-versed and passionate." Yet the
nonpartisan trio agreed Senator Obama edged out Clinton. They cited a few key
reasons:
-- Acting is reacting. The Toastmasters agreed that Clinton appeared more
defensive. Hastings says, "When challenged about their campaign criticisms of
each other, Clinton, through facial expressions and tone of voice, appeared
peeved and angry." Hastings adds that Obama "appeared mature and matter of
fact, defending his criticisms of Clinton by remaining calm and deliberate."
-- It's not what you say but what the listeners see. Hastings says the
candidates' reaction shots -- what they were doing when the other was speaking
-- showed Obama listening "intently and courteously." David Brooks,
Toastmasters' 1990 World Champion of Public Speaking, says, "When Obama was
speaking, Clinton appeared to glare at him with apparent disdain."
-- Silence is golden. Brooks says that Clinton lost big on the second question
when she began her response complaining that she's always seemed to get the
first question in this series of debates. "It made her look as if she were
whining," he explains. He adds, "Obama wisely refrained from addressing the
'who goes first' issue and the Saturday Night Live sketch [performed two
nights earlier, which many people in the country hadn't seen]. In a debate,
sometimes you score points with silence."
While Lance Miller, Toastmasters' 2005 World Champion of Public Speaking,
believes Obama won the debate based on his use of gestures and pacing of
words, he offers positive points about each candidate.
"Both Senator Clinton and Senator Obama were polished, prepared and
professional in their appearance and knowledge," Miller says. "They are both
excellent at handling questions in a manner that does not dwell on the answer
as much as it forwards their position and message."
"This is as much an art form as a science," he adds, "and a necessary skill
for any successful contender in the political arena."
For information on Toastmasters International, its programs and locations,
visit www.toastmasters.org.
SOURCE Toastmasters International
Suzanne Frey of Toastmasters International, +1-949-858-8255,
sfrey@toastmasters.org
