Barack Obama never looked more presidential than he did standing next to John McCain last night. McCain kicked things off with both guns firing—with his “bold” “new” plan to help homeowners keep their homes. But after that, he had nothing new to say. Add to that his grimacing posture, the condescending way he says “my friends,” and he came across as strained and trying too hard.

The controlling metaphor, if there was one, for McCain was that he would be a steady hand at the tiller. His first mention of tilling came about during the discussion on foreign policy. McCain said need a “cool hand at the tiller” and the tiller I saw was not the boat tiller, but the tiller that turns up soil. Seconds later he was talking about “America's most precious asset, American blood.” I was still trying to figure out if he had said “cruel hand” or “cool hand;” either way, I saw Mr. Death tilling up a field of blood. Never mind that we are not shipping blood over seas, we are shipping men and women who have a lot more to offer this world than their blood.

Later, in closing, he returned to the metaphor, this time he said that what we need during crisis is a “steady hand at the tiller.” Better “steady” than “cold.” But still as a controlling metaphor it was problematic since McCain has until now packaged himself as a “Maverick,” and he’s come across during this campaign as impulsive, rash, and erratic, whereas Obama’s strong point is his temperament.

I imagine strategists advised him that the Maverick line isn’t working (perhaps Palin killed it) and that he needed to come across as cool tempered. Unfortunately, you are what you are.

It’s become clear to me why McCain makes conservatives uneasy—his positions on issues are all over the map. He is against regulations but for government oversight. He opposes spending but wants to spend more. He tries to play both sides on religious conservatism, wink winking at extremists while talking like a moderate.

Obama, by contrast, stays on message, has a cool temperament and looks good on stage. His mind is nimble—he is able to adapt to changing circumstances, and he’s aware of where we are in history.