Presidential debate

[danielh41]

As a diehard conservative, I was somewhat disappointed with McCain's performance. When Jim Lehrer asked what cuts Obama would have to make to his plan as a result of the financial crisis bailout, Obama went on and on about how much he was going to spend (apparently Obama wants the government to take care of every aspect of everyone's lives), McCain failed to point this out. And when Obama mentioned that Al Queda was still operating and making video tapes, McCain should have jumped on that, saying that videos were the only way they could attack us since here since we had engaged them in Afganistan and Iraq.

But I did get extremely tired of Obama's "uh's." It was a much more spirited debate than in past elections though...

[silverscreenselect]

In my view, the debate was a draw. Both made the points they intended to make and neither made a huge mistake. It seemed that both were at times playing a game of who could pronounce the names of more of the world leaders correctly. Obama didn't ramble or pontificate as he often does, but McCain didn't lose his temper either.

This helps Obama with those voters who were looking for a degree of reassurance on foreign policy, but it also helps McCain overcome the image that's been portrayed of him recently as a bumbling blowhard. He also showed a number of differences with Bush policies.

I think McCain may have stopped the bleeding in the polls (a clear Obama win tonight would have ended the campaign barring a major development). The next step will be to see what emerges from the bailout bill. If the eventual bill winds up with a fair amount of what the Republicans were looking for, it's a victory for McCain. If it's virtually the same thing that was described Thursday (especially if it passes on a strict party line vote), then it's a win for Obama.

[BackInTex]

Obama was clear, he wanted to give all the tax breaks to the working class so they could keep more of their paycheck.

McCain SHOULD HAVE responded, "That's all well and good, but my plan will help them KEEP their paycheck."

[nitrah55]

No one tried for a big punch, no one took a big hit.

There may be some undecideds who make up their minds from this, but I don't see anyone gaining or losing ground overall.

It was a night of prose, not poetry.

[Sir_Galahad]

I also think he should have specified that he wanted the burden of the "bailout" to be on the shoulders of the companies and not the taxpayers. And, he should have been more specific about what and why he went to Washington. I think he could have scored a lot of points with those explanations.

[lilclyde54]

One hidden benefit (for us ) will be all the closed off parking lots around the Ford Center that will be available for parking at the next home game. Less hiking to The Grove.

[SportsFan68]

I agree with Nitrah.

I think some undecideds may now be leaning Obama's way, and the next debate will probably clinch it.

I was at a watch party with about 200 people, and judging by the applause, since we weren't under the same restrictions as the audience at the the University, it was about 50% Dems, 30% Reps, 20% Undecided.

There was no applause when McCain tried to invoke Reagan or when he launched into the bracelet story. Admittedly partisan and no Reagan fan ever, I cringed when he started that story. It was so Reagan-like it was scary. Anyway, how can he be a maverick and at the same time think of Reagan as one of his most-admired? In other words, how can he be steeped in the Reagan tradition and at the same time pride himself on rebelling against it? His "I'm no Miss Congeniality" rang hollow.

Obama appeared knowledgeable, capable, and Presidential. That's why I think the Undecideds left leaning his way, and why I think they'll come over with the next debate.