Obama uses 'I' more than McCain

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee for U.S. president, used the passive voice far more in the last debate than Republican John McCain, an analysis says.

A Texas media analysis company, Global Language Monitor, also found that Obama used the word "I" significantly more often. Obama used it 158 times in the debate, while McCain weighed in at 115 times.

The company said that passive voice can be used to evade responsibility. Obama used it in 6 percent of his sentences, while McCain used it in 3 percent.

Obama's language averaged at a 9th grade level, while McCain's was at about a 7th grade level.

"Again, word choice and usage speaks volumes," said Paul Payack, the company's president and chief word analyst. "Obama came in at a higher grade level than his previous efforts, but McCain was somewhat easier to understand. Obama's significantly higher use of the passive voice combined with his frequent use of the word 'I' perhaps indicated an impatience with his opponent last witnessed in his debates with Hillary Clinton."