So, in order for McCain to have more than a snowball’s chance on Tatooine, he was going to have to pull out the Ultimate Trump Card. Seems like it really doesn’t exist (not surprised, personally). Can’t say that I wasn’t thinking that it was possible that McCain had been sitting on something this whole time, but it seems, if Nate Silver is to be believed, it will take some kind of miracle for the vote to swing back his way.

Now, I’m often one for betting on high risk, high payoff situations, but while the odds are against McCain, and, if I were to bet on him, the payout could be good, I don’t think this is an overall “high payoff” situation. While I’m all one for deregulation of certain things – you know, perhaps gambling or bans and such things – that isn’t what we need right now. Even out here in the Outer Rim, we’ve felt the financial troubles that are affecting everyone.

Regulation is what we need, and it looks like I’m going to have to stick with the pirate title.

-Han Solo

According to many polls, Obama is in the lead, even in the national poll averages, Obama is projected to win…Even after the debate, polls of those there showed Obama claimed victory over McCain:

Who did the best job in the debate?

McCain (R) 30
Obama (D) 54

Opinion of  Barack Obama (before debate)

Favorable: 64 (60)
Unfavorable: 34 (38)

Opinion of  John McCain (before debate)

Favorable: 51 (51)
Unfavorable: 46 (46)

54% say Obama was the clear winner.
29% say McCain was the clear winner.
18% say there was no clear winner.

When over half say Obama wins, is there more he can do for getting votes?

On the other hand, kind of obviously, expected with those polls, McCain is losing, down, needing to score some major points against Obama. Honestly, really, truly, McCain, must you stoop to that level, even when down on the ground yourself, when losing, when winning is evading you, to try to get points, to try to score wins, to try to get votes?

The way George Bush ran his campaign in 2000 mirrored his Presidency – slimy, underhanded, with no sense of basic decency. The way John McCain is running his campaign now, will reflect how he conducts himself as president.

The way the candidate runs his campaign is a good impression, a good show, a good preview, of what’s to come when he’s president…Which campaign is less low, better, a good choice for what’s to come?

Obama’s been my guy since the beginning of this election process, kupo, and nothing that I’ve heard so far has given me the urge to change my mind. Now, that being said, I have to add that I hope that tonight may have swayed more voters minds, specifically towards Obama, kupo. It seems that the general Election2008 Twitter reaction was that Obama won, as well as the CNN initial polls and other similar things, kupo.
That being said, I’d like to address a couple of the key things I noticed during the debate.

First, McCain might have needed a few more pointers on how to act during this debate. While the media hype was that he was very good at town hall format situations, he didn’t quitelive up to that, kupo. He freaked some of the online population out by standing too close to the audience (at least to our perceptions), and really had a problem with looking stiff, kupo, and eventually pacing (this being interpreted as rude to Senator Obama by some).

Second note, I liked how Obama didn’t make himself out to be perfect, kupo. He could have addressed that the financial crisis is the fault of many rather than just of one side or the other, but he did admit to his lack of experience in foreign affairs and other areas (which have been left out of my notes, unfortunately, kupo). I think he could have brought in his choice of Joe Biden as a complement to that lack of knowledge, but alas, the opportunity has come and gone. Perhaps next time, or maybe he will use it in the media, that would help, kupo.

All in all, kupo, I noticed that both candidates tried to address the people, but Obama seemed to score much higher with the uncommitted voters in Ohio, and did much better with being inspirational as opposed to condescending. Seeing as Obama is still ahead in the polls, Senator McCain would have had to pull off an amazingperformance today, kupo, in order to take the lead, and that just did not happen.

It was really nice to see both candidates in this more informal kind of arena, and both candidates had good and bad moments, but in the end, the result has remained the same, kupo. Senator Obama comes out on top.

-Moogle

8.00 Town Hall Format. Rules Listed

8.03 Candidates Introduced, Coin flip Obama Starts.

8.04 First Question: What’s the fastest, best way to help Americans suffering from economic Crisis?

8.08 Who would you appoint as Treasury secretary?

8.11 Q: What in the Bailout Package will actually help Americans?

8.15 McCain’s history is incorrect -Obama

8.17  McCain knew this crisis was going to happen

8.18 Q: How can we trust either of you with our money when both parties created this crisis?

8.20 G. Bush spent all the nation’s money -Obama

8.23 Obama doesn’t know how to spend money. -McCain

8.24 It seems McCain is just saying that I know how to do everything and Obama doesn’t know what he is doing.

8.25 Energy is agreed upon as the most important issue.

8.26 No one is sticking to time rules

8.28 Q: What sacrifices will you ask every American to make to ease economic crisis?

8.30 McCain wishes to stop spending all across the board with the exception of vital programs.

8.32 Obama wants people to buys energy efficient home and cars.

8.34 How would you break America’s bad habit of too much debt and easy credit?

8.35 Obama wants everyone to share the burden.

8.36 McCain wishes to get control to the people to spend on health care and to give tax cuts to

8.37 Q; Would you give congress a date to reform social security and medicare?

8.38 Obama wishes to increase taxes to people that make +250000 a year

8.40 McCain attacks Obama again he has no experience and wishes to increase taxes

8.43 What would you do within the first two years as president on the environment?

8.45 McCain wishes to create jobs that deal with green energy

8.46 Obama agrees and wishes export the technologies

8.48 The Canidates are using too much time.

8.50 Q: Should health care be treated as a commodity?

8.51 Obama wishes to lower the cost of health care and wishes get ride of perexisting condisions.

8.52 McCain wishes to give people a $5000 refundable credit.

8.54 Wants to give the people control of thier health care.

8.55 Q: Is health care  a privilege, a right ot a responsiblity?

8.55 McCain: Responsibility

8.56 Obama: Right

8.59 Q:How will recent economic distress affect U.S. ability to be a peacemaker?

9.00 McCain believes you need experince to lead the country, like himself

9.04 Q: Define your doctrine for use of U.S. military for humanitarian purposes?

9.05 Obama wishes to lead the world against terrorism

9.06 McCain wants to bring the troops home with honor

9.08 Q:Should the U.S. respect Pakistani sovereignty or ignore it to pursue al qaeda?

9.10 Obama: in sort no

9.12 McCain wishes to get the support of the country to help

9.13 It is getting ugly. They are starting to go back and forth about attacking Pakistan

9.16 Q: How do you reorganize U.S. strategy in Afghanistan?

9.17 Obama wants Afghanistan to take control of that area

9.18 McCain wishes to work closely with them to fallow through with the exciting strategy

9.20 Q:How can we apply pressure to Russia on humanitarian issues without starting a cold war?

9.22 Obama wishes to help out the countries in trouble and not try to invade them

9.23 Q: Is Russia under putin an evil empire?

9.23 Obama maybe

9.24 McCain maybe

9.25Q:If Iran attacks Israel, would you commit U.S. troops to support Israel?

9.26 McCain yes without hesitation

9.27 Obama wishes to take other options before , but yes

9.29 Last Q: What don’t you know and how will you learn it?

9.29 Obama: he did not really answer the question but made a point that he is the creation of the education system

9.32 McCain: he doesn’t know what is going to happen but says he can adapt

9.34 End

Join Current_ and Twitter on Tuesday, Oct. 7th as they Hack the Debate by posting live tweets over the debate. Sounds like fun!

-Laughing Man

8:00

Starting this thing, same rules, same things, same parties, just different people.

8:03

Coin toss? Fair? Biden starts….

Economy…..Biden talks about what Obama says: home owners, tax payers are investors, CEO’s don’t benefit, has a plan….Focus on middle class, not focus on CEO’s and wealthy

Palin: McCain? Reform? Doesn’t Obama stand more for change?

8:06

Stop the genocide!!!! More police!!! Friends on both sides!

McCain said economy was strong? Really? Out of touch….Biden says…

New energy? New commitment? New reform?

Isn’t that Obama’s thing, not McCain’s?

8:09

Palin – Lender’s fault for economy….Don’t be exploited, demand strict over sight, don’t get in debt, don’t live outside our means, don’t get taken advantage of…. “Soccer moms”.

8:12

Biden – Middle class needs tax relief, more money, less hard times

Palin, really? Tax relief with less taxes, but how is the government supposed to get money to help the economy?

8:15

Twitters are commenting on how Palin keeps winking at the camera and is following a script and is looking at the camera and looking nervous…..Des she look at nothing else? Not at Biden? Not at the audience out there? Not the stand? Just the audience through the camera?

8:17

Middle class? Is Palin really middle class?

8:19

Biden – Small businesses get no tax raises with Obama’s plan, McCain taxes those that have health benefits to give money to those that don’t have it which equals the real bridge to nowhere; therefore, McCain’s health care program is the ultimate bridge to Nowhere.

8:23

Palin is scripted, is rushed through her lines, is saying McCain won’t break any promise? What about Letterman? Did she forget about McCain leaving Letterman for Couric?

More money for Exxon mobile? More profit? No more bills for gas? Four billion tax cut for them?

8:26

Blinking, winking, speed talking, no specifics, sound biting, does Plain not know her specifics?

8:28

Biden’s and Obama’s plan for the banks and housing markets sounds good, helping people staying in their homes, helping banks from going under, helping economy…

8:31

Topic changes, dodging questions, can Palin answer questions? Twitters want an answer to that and to the questions asked of her!! She knows about energy…Does she not know about anything else?

8:36

Senator O’Biden? Obama and Biden equals O’Biden. Screw up on Palin’s part!!

Only tolerant of those who choose same sex partners? Diverse family? Contracts and visiting right acceptable but doesn’t believe same sex marriage…No answering the question directed at her, but…she agrees with Biden! If only agreeing since she’s scripted, and can’t respond to Biden’s free shots.

8:40

More troops, grow military, no quitting in Iraq….Pull out…but not so on….

Obama has a plan, even Bush has a plan, McCain doesn’t have exact plan….McCain doesn’t have an end in sight, Obama does….

Counterattack, opposes surge, pullout is a white flag of surrender, surges works, victory in sight..Doesn’t victory equal end? Victory and pullout are both ends in sight, but…

8:46

“CNN’s uncommitted voter tracker is nearly off the chart during Biden’s response on “the greatest threat”"

“Na-ivah-tay?” Bush pronunciation? Really now?

Pronunciation of words, Palin, enunciation, through out all of all of your answers, some words are not pronounced well…

8:50

“So the dictators and Palin seem to be in agreement? They hate our freedoms, our women’s rights…”

She keeps saying Nuke-u-lar, pronunciation, Palin, pronunciation!!!!

8:54

Always smiling, no emotion changes, not like Biden, at least he seems serious most of the time instead of happy..Always smiling, always happy, is she serious? “Change is commin’!”

“I haven’t heard how his policy” “is going to be different than George Bush’s!” Vote John McCain, who is same as having another George Bush, just the same thing, that’s not change, Obama is change!!

“Nucular”, Palin, at least correct your pronunciation!!!

8:59

“biden = facts & plans, palin = rambling generalities?” Twitters finding Biden far better at explaining points, answering questions, not hip-hop-skipping-and-jumping topics, though Twitters find her better looking….Image or facts, which is more important?

9:05

Back to economy again, Palin…..skipping and hopping from topic to topic…..Hop, skip, jump…Are we playing hop-scotch? Palin is playing hop-scotch with her topics…

“Obama: Fresh, energetic vs. McCain: Old, stubborn. Biden: Mature, experienced vs. Palin: Clueless, clueless.”

“McCain knows how to win a war? Did we win in Vietnam?”

Twitters don’t seem to much like Palin, though there are a few out there that seem to comment on her/McCain’s side/against Biden/Obama….

9:09

The word “Maverick” again, “greed”, “corruption” again, “working class family”, “inaction of congress” again.

Doesn’t McCain work in Congress? So he doesn’t do anything, Palin?

“Middle class has gotten the short end” “Obama will change it.”

9:13

“debate biden palin – anyone watching the CNN meter… pretty flat for palin ” Even if she gets some laughs in the audience, more votes go for Biden….

Palin thinks that everyone knows what the VP does? What about the uninformed people?

9:15

Biden tells what he’ll do as Vice President, good, people need to be told, especially those people who don’t know…Constitution has specific rule for vice president….

9:19

A beacon of hope? With the economy the way it is?

Democracy, freedom, equal rights?

Biden refuses to change, except for agreeing to Obama’s change and being against McCain’s ‘change’….

Biden understands single parenting, admits he’s much better off now, but “I understand” and he knows people are looking for “help”.

McCain is “Maverick” again….Both Palin and McCain went up against their own party….

“Tu-molt-u-ous”?

Biden says McCain is a Maverick that the people don’t want, has agreed with Bush most of the time, not been one when it comes to children, war, virtually anything that affects anything that is talked about around the kitchen table….

Biden’s emotionally connected to the crowd, especially where he looked like he was choking up about a child who might not make it. Biden’s best moment of the night.

9:24

Biden against those who make ‘change’ that’s bad for people, matters what your judiciary policy/ideology is….

Bipartisanship, work across the aisle, never question motives, fundamental change that Obama will bring…

Diverse family, says Palin, but only in the political sense, apparently….

9:29

Answer questions? She has seemed scripted the whole time….

Closing speeches really interesting, a wonderful close, finish off finally….

“Biden handled himself very well, and Palin didn’t totally suck.” Just one of many Twitterers who agree, match, concur that Biden wins…

And now, off to go plot, scheme, and devise the demise the destruction of those PowerPuff Girls….

-Mojo Jojo

(8:02) Before we even begin the debate. Palin – “Hey, can I call you Joe?” – How sweet, twitter explodes with chatter.

(Palin 1 / Biden 0)

(8:06) Palin brings up McCain’s campaign suspension. Seems like a bad time to remind America about McCain’s failure to save the economy.

(8:08) Nice rebuttal by Palin on McCain’s “economy is sound” quote. “He was talking to and talking about the American work force.” She even throws a little wink in there, not sure how I feel about that one.

(8:12) “Joey how much did it cost you to fill up your tank?” “I don’t know Joe, I never have enough money to do it” great quote Biden. Really hits home on the issues middle class America is facing.

(8:13) Biden- “Tacis” bit of a tounge slip there…

(Palin 1 / Biden 1)

(8:14) Oh, snap! The bull dog bites back, but gets cut off. Too bad, she was on a roll there.

(8:16) Biden saves himself from a few technicality gaffes. Changes are different from a break and millions are much different than billions. Well done sir.

(8:17) Palin is middle class? Depends on what you call middle class I guess…

(8:20) Biden drops a Bridge to Nowhere bomb on Palin. Laughter from the “silent” crowd.

(8:22) Biden can’t quite get characterized out.

(Palin 1 / Biden 2)

(8:22) Biden- “I don’t have time cause the light is blinking”

(Palin 1 / Biden 3)

(8:24) Palin – “I’ve been at this what, 5 weeks?”

(Palin 2 / Biden 3)

(8:26) Biden links Obama tax cut to a tax cut Palin gave residents of Alaska. Way to show America how maverick Palin is by going against a tax plan she once supported.

(8:30) Palin seems jittery, lots of movement behind the podium. Um… didn’t America say no to the Kyoto Treaty? I think that makes us the irresponsible ones. At least she knows that climate change is not entirely man mad as opposed to Biden.

(Palin 3 / Biden 4)

(8:34) “Senator O-Biden” fumble on Palin’s part.

(Palin 4 / Biden 4)

(8:35) Biden tries to clear up his rope line gaffe. Wants to send the clean coal technology to China.

(8:36) Biden says he and Obama support same-sex benefits. Palin says she will be tolerant, but doesn’t support changing the definition of marriage. Biden agrees with Palin saying he and Obama. Palin doesn’t state McCain’s stance. Something tells me they disagree on this issue.

(8:41) “I didn’t hear a plan” and Biden throws another punch. Starts talking about ending war in Iraq and he and Obama are going to do it to boot.

(8:42) Palin a bit speechless after Biden’s attack. Claims giving up now would wave a white flag.

(8:44) I should have started counting how many time Biden says “Fundamental”. (Update: It’s #6)

(8:45) Another “Fundamental” from Biden (Update: #9)

(8:48) Palin – “Naive-tae” That’s a bit too folksy for me thanks.

(8:50) Biden talks in the third person? (Update: His third time apparently)

(8:54) Heavy sigh from Biden as Palin talks foreign policy. It seems like he’s getting agitated.

(8:54) “Looking backwards and pointing fingers” Palin hits Obama/Biden hard on their forward thinking stance. Biden responds fairly well with a McCain = Bush comparison.

(8:56) Biden – “George Bushes” mark another one for Biden. Wouldn’t have been so bad if he hadn’t repeated it over and over and over again, but I guess he was trying to drive a point home.

(Palin 4 / Biden 5)

(8:58) “Let me say that again” I think we heard you the first time Joe.

(9:00) Palin and Biden arguing about what McClellan said. They remind me of children the way they’re arguing back and forth.

(9:01) Biden knows his foreign groups “Serbs, Croats and Bosniaks” without hesitation or skipping a beat.

(9:03) Palin doesn’t get it, Biden is attacking McCain. She needs to be aiming for Obama instead of pointing out Biden’s changes in policy.

(9:06) Twitterland praising Biden for his comparison of McCain to Cheny. If that’s the case I hope Palin doesn’t take McCain Moose hunting. Another explosion from twitter as Palin claims John McCain knows how to win a war. Most users pointing out he knows how crash planes some of them hyperbolizing the facts.

(9:07) A tough question “What would you do if you became president?” Biden says he’s going to stick with Obama’s plans. Palin winks and says she’s a maverick.

(9:09) Palin’s word of the night is “Main Street”

(9:11) “I say it ain’t so Joe” Really? Tack another one on for Palin.

(Palin 5 / Biden 5)

(9:12) “Shout out to those 3rd graders” She’s on a roll folks.

(Palin 6 / Biden 5)

(9:13) Palin tries to rectify one of her interview answers. Not quite sure I believe her on this one, and even if she was joking that was not the place nor the time to be trying to get a laugh out of someone.

(9:14) Voted best phrase to take out of context “John McCain tapped me and said, That’s where I need ya”

(9:18) Palin reminds everyone that she was the governor of a HUGE state (Filled with practically no one. Only 1.1 people per square mile)

(9:20) Biden chokes as he talks about having to play the role of a single parent. (Update: Possibly the most powerful moment of this debate. Biden levels with Americans and shows us a soft side at the same time.)

(9:22) Freaudian slip by Palin “He is the man we need to leave — lead” That’s gonna be circulated for a couple days.

(Palin 7 / Biden 5)

(9:23) Biden attacks McCain on his “Maverick” status. Points out he’s not a maverick on issues that “people talk about around the kitchen table”

(9:27) Biden talks about questioning judgment instead of questioning motives to bring bipartisan politics to an end. Palin talks about her diverse family (since she doesn’t have a whole lot of that Washington experience).

(9:29) Palin’s closing remarks. Takes a shot at how the media has been portraying her before going into a well spoken (although highly scripted) tale of how “We don’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream; we have to fight for it and protect it, and then hand it to them so that they shall do the same”.

(9:30) Biden’s closing remarks. Talks about how he and Obama mark progress “on whether or not someone can pay their mortgage, whether or not they can send their kid to college, whether or not they’re able to, when they send their child to fight, that they are the best equipped and they have everything they need.”

So, with the VP debate over we have our standings at

Biden threw some good punches attacking McCain/Palin on their maverick status and on their plan for the war in Iraq. Palin hit Obama/Biden back on their progressive thinking stance. Who wo… oh hey, the Bat Signal! Gotta run!

-Batman

What is going on with the economy?!?! Economy crisis?! Yes, it seems that the economy is in a downfall…..

While McCain was supposed to go back to Washington to address the economic issues/crisis in this country, and if the deal is not finished and decided on, the debates are over? What do the people think about that?

Though, it seems he stayed in New York for an interview….I wonder what the polls will say when they find out….

Debates seemed to be right on schedule, though. Right on time, they were. No problems with the timing. Who won? Who lost? Hurdles covered? Hurdles knocked over? What about the polls now?

Obama seems to have a hold on what should be done for the economy, Palin is very vague on what she thinks needs to be done to help the economy….

Even the current president says “We’re in the midst of a serious financial crisis“….

Yet, they didn’t pass the bill, had a bad reaction to it, rejected it. Reasons behind the rejection? Who knows…

-Mojo Jojo

After the presidential debates Friday mant people weighed in on who won the debates. As expected, Left leaning blogs claim Obama won while the right retorts the win goes to McCain.

Neither of these opinions matter as Joshua Trevino points out on his blog,

If you want to assess the “winner” of a campaign debate, the only data that matters is the post-debate polling — not the pronouncements of the pundits.

What really matters are the undecided voters and what they have to say about the debate.

Let’s crunch some of those numbers:

Image

Obama 49% Better – 8% Worse = +41%

McCain 32% Better – 21% Worse = +11%

Prepared to be President

Obama 60% (Post Debate) – 44% (Pre Debate) = +16%

McCain 78% (Post Debate) – 79% (Pre Debate) = -1%

Understands Your Needs and Problems

Obama 79% (Post Debate) – 58% (Pre Debate) = +21%

McCain 41% (Post Debate) – 36% (Pre Debate) = +5%

Overall, it seems like Obama gained more from this debate than McCain did. What do you think Dave?

-Hal 9000

7:59 PM (All times CDT)

Getting ready to liveblog the debate. Hopefully there won’t be too much commentary.

8:03 PM

No sound at all? Now that should be interesting. Oh, financial question first. Here we go!
Main Street vs. Wall Street. Good start. College. Very important point. Fast, but not too fast, addressing that $700bn is a lot of money. Measuring the economy by the middle class, thank you, Mr. Obama.

8:06 PM

Someone tell McCain that Sen. Kennedy is out of the hospital now. Whoops! McCain speaks a lot slower… and therefore says a lot less. And ha, five minutes is enough time to work out an agreement! Truth!

8:11

A Twitterer points out that McCain has already said that he is tired as a defense of his condition and whatever may happen. Interesting idea. And many people are already addressing McCain’s lack of a flag pin. I am amused.

8:15

McCain has just attached himself to “No earmarks”. This could be dangerous if Obama uses it well. Ah, the no-lobbyists-here card. And turning it on McCain. Back to working with for the people, not the corportations. McCain… Only $18bn? Only?

8:22

Obama uses the word “sometimes” followed by bringing up the healthcare issue that needs more attention anyways. McCain, we have to move on. And I think Obama does well looking back and forth between the audience there and the audience at the debate watching parties. It’s not just about who is there, it’s about people around the country!

8:27

Sen. Ted Stevens was the one to call McCain “the sheriff”. – From Politico’s Jonathan Martin

8:31

Transparency with spending projects. This has been very useful so far this campaign. And good job, Lehrer, don’t let McCain control you in this debate. “Hatchet” vs. “scalpel”. A very graphic statement.

8:37

Still haven’t seen McCain’s eyes yet. Hey, the people are out here! “Orgy of spending”? That’s… a bit risky terminology Senator Obama. Be careful. And McCain, you’re not “Ms. Congeniality”, but your running mate is may be! (FactCheck.org may need to be checked on this statement. Apologies for assumptions.)

8:41

Not sure if everything Obama has said just now is accurate, but it certainly sounded good, and for the next 24 hours, that’s all that matters. Let’s hope, for his sake, that most of it is the truth.

8:53

Wondering about the fun-o-meter of the audience, and finally! Foreign policy! But be careful of using charged words, McCain candidates. Lopping people together would be very bad. Here goes Obama, telling McCain that he is wrong, and explaining why. “No one said anything about attacking Pakistan.”

“Threaten extinction for North Korea”? Really? Where was this? I am genuinely interested.

9:01

My, there is a lot of information to keep track of at once. This is exciting. And we’re running over on taking only five minutes. I am not surprised. Oh… a long pause? For the first time in this debate. This “League of Democracies” sounds similar to the United Federation of Nations United Nations. Probably has more authority, at least in Senator McCain’s mind, but I’m not sure if that’s really a good thing.

9:08

McCain, it’s a bad idea to obviously struggle over a word. Even one that difficult. Oh, I think I just saw McCain’s eyes! One hour later!

9:14

McCain, Israel is not the United States, and you’re making your party sound more and more set about bringing about the… I cannot continue this train of thought. McCain just… Okay. Republicans seem to want to bring about the Biblical Armegeddon. How about we not set our goals on that? And thank you Senator Obama for clearing up what no “preconditions” means.

9:28

Suitcase threat right after talking about airport security. It’s a good mental connection for people. Very easy to imagine. And a shift to terrorism, and in Afganistan and Pakistan, not Iraq.

9:33

Obama’s on a committee that focuses on Veterans… and McCain is not? An interesting twist there. McCain almost used what seems to be a dangerous word, “invasion”. McCain’s trying to connect disconnected parts, but I’m not sure if he’s really explaining how that’s supposed to work.

9:37

And there ends the debate. Should be interesting to watch the reactions, and to get all of the information that has been gathered from this evening. Ah, and a last thing! Sen. Obama was the first to approach the other candidate to congratulate him on a good debate. Points there.

9:52

After a short break, I have to say that this debate was near even, at least in general affect on the population. Sen. Obama did a much better job of being focused, clear, and speaking as if he was talking to many more people than were actually there – which is what he needed to do. Sen. Obama also hit many of Nate Silver’s key debate points, but so did Sen. McCain. I think it will be very interesting to see the verification/debunking of statements on FactCheck.org when they finally get through everything that was said tonight.

Thank you, candidates, for the debate. It was entertaining, and I am looking forward to the debates still to come.

-Lelouch Lamperouge