After Monday's riveting final debate, I watched as the candidates hugged their wives, countless Romneys flooded the stage, and a tiny Romney grandson rushed to shake President Obama's hand. The President got down on the floor to be at the little boy's level and spoke with him before the boy was scooped up by his family. After much milling around, family members dispersed and Romney followed Obama to the edge of the stage to shake audience hands. First, I was struck by Obama's athletic stance, bending gracefully from his core and leaning forward on one leg with the other extended back as counterweight; he eventually dropped to a full crouch to make eye contact with those congratulating him. The camera cut back and forth between him and Romney greeting the audience at the other end of the stage. Then I was struck by the contrast: Romney bending with both knees together, with back stiff and upright (a protective back posture I know all too well!), left hand braced against left knee as if to prevent collapse, wobbling alarmingly at times (to watch, select C-Span's Post Debate Program from the video menu at the right, about :35 seconds in). Ann started hovering with a hand on Mitt, and at about :45 sec. in, just grabbed him around the waist as if to save him from collapsing. In the photos it looks like an oddly informal, zany kind of hug (one that the Daily Mail labeled "hilarious"), but in the video it looks more like a desperate rescue mission. With lots of manic grinning. Despite that camouflage, it struck me that Mitt is not only tired; he's frail...
↧