Vor den ersten Debatten lag er etwa 20 Punkte vor seinen Konkurrenten, was möglicherweise in erster Linie auf seine größere Bekanntheit und seine offensichtliche Nähe zu Obama zurückzuführen war (der weiterhin demonstrativ neutral bliebt).
Before the first debates, he hovered some 20 points above his rivals. Though this may have been due largely to his greater name recognition and his evident closeness with Obama (who is remaining studiously neutral), he has come across as dwelling in nostalgia.