Dr. Barry A Goodfield’s Findings on the
Presidential Debates of January 30 and 31, 2008

Below please find Dr. Goodfield’s analysis of the presidential debates using the Goodfield Method.  For more information on the Goodfield Method please see Goodfield Method section or the Forensic Examiner articles posted in the Press section of the Goodfield Institute web site.

Hillary Clinton

• She presented a calm, controlled, focused, cool “on message” demeanor at this last Democratic debate before Super Tuesday.
• Her nonverbal cues included repeated “tongue out and eyes closing” movements when Obama made statements with which she disagreed.
• When Obama spoke she looked straight ahead, blocked her breathing and pulled her mouth tight, increasing the lines on the sides of her mouth. This meant she was “holding on, in control” until his comments were concluded.
• These cues demonstrate that her basic strategy for dealing with stress and conflict is to “hang on and hang in” toughing it out to the end.
• Clinton’s stress showed in her “psychophysical epidermal reaction” which means her skin turned red under her neck.  Yet she projected calmness and control throughout the debate
• Her remark about the Clinton’s having to clean up after the Bush’s received a big response from the audience.

Barack Obama

• He presented an impression of control and waiting for a slip or error so that he could jump in with his consistent, clear message.
• Forty five minutes into the debate, he exhibited a non-verbal “tick” or “twitch” on the right side of his face which showed the tension he was experiencing regarding the questions.
• Obama has a stance of “head up on an upward left angle.” He exhibited very flat affect throughout the debate accompanied by very shallow breathing.  This habit creates feelings of anxiety in the practitioner due to reduced oxygen in the blood stream.
• Personality-wise there would be less chance of an Obama/Clinton ticket than a Clinton/Obama ticket due to the rigidly of Clinton's personality.  He is more flexible than she is.

The debate Wednesday night was for all intents and purposes between John McCain and Mitt Romney.  Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul were also present but were not part of the “main show” and they understandably showed frustration regarding their plight.  There was little “milk of human kindness” spilled at the debate Wednesday night.  This was very serious business, as McCain and Romney were well aware.

John McCain

• He had major masseter muscle build up showing very clearly on his (VR) side.  This was once again a sign of his very well controlled aggression.
• When confronted by Romney, McCain would regularly speak through clenched teeth.
• He had his eyes up with a high flutter rate when Romney spoke.
• McCain’s upper lip did not move and he would look away when Romney spoke and then play with his pen and smile.  This showed anxiety clearly observable in his high flutter rate (blinking).
• McCain VL side of his mouth pulls.  When he judges someone he smiles and looks away and as they say “that is the end of that.” His mind is not only made up but in fact closed to other opinions and viewpoints.

Mitt Romney

• When attacking McCain, Romney's tongue comes out and he closes his eyes.
• When McCain spoke, Romney looked at him with great distrust and suspicion, giving off a general feeling of controlled aggression.  This was visible in his pulsing masseter muscles and cocked head.  He also faced forward with eyes looking to his right at McCain.

Mike Huckabee (A Stalking horse for McCain?)

• Mike Huckabee presented himself in a more “polished” manner than in previous debates.
• He had a general increase in balance.  He showed calm in his remarks, even with humor, as he was bypassed in favor of the two leading candidates.
• He exhibited a “blocked thought” when both his eyebrows where elevated during many of his remarks.  This showed the pressure and disbelief causing his frustration.
• Regarding the question about looking into the eyes of Russian President Putin, Huckabee asserted that “You cannot tell what others feel,” which, of course, is technically incorrect.
• Huckabee has come a long way from his first appearances as shown in his nonverbal behavior.  He could even be perceived as “presidential” - perhaps too late in the game for him now.

• Once again, Paul’s voice and jerky movements gave the impression of a scattered and even fanatical person.  His wild or very wide eyes and equally wild ideas hammered home this impression.