The Er Factor

UPDATE, 3/21/08: Three weeks later, and now Letterman is in for the count. See Mr. Late Night count Obama "Uhs" here.

I love a good challenge, so in respectful response to Sasha's suggestion that Barack Obama makes better eye candy than ear candy, I replayed some of Tuesday night's debate, listening intently for ers, ums, and other verbal tics. This is important, folks. Which one is the Er Candidate? Herein the, um, (un)scientific results:

The first 60 seconds of the first response

Clinton                                              Obama

 Uh: 10                                                Uh: 7
 Um: 0                                                Um: 1 
 Y'know: 1                                           Y'know: 0

The "I seem to get the first question" lament

Clinton                                              Obama                                    Audience

Uh: 0                                                  Dignified silence                        Boos: 1
Um: 0
Y'know: 1

The Hyperbole Clip

Clinton                                              Obama                       

The Laugh: 2

The Great Reject/Denounce Debate

Clinton                                              Obama

Uh: 7                                                  Uh: 5
Um: 0                                                 Um: 0
Y'know: 2                                            Y'know: 0

During these brief segments, it's important to note that Obama flashed three winning smiles, while Clinton gave us two warm and genuine grins. With the margin for error at plus or minus four uhs, ums, and y'knows, it looks like Obama has an edge over Clinton in the Er Factor. But if we're going to apply our critical skills to the race, I prefer the poetry vs. prose method. After all, you can't separate the dancer from the dance. Y'know?