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I think it was probably a draw.... both made good points...
Will be interesting to see what happens with the next two.

Yep, Next time one could play a drinking game taking a shot everytime they say Fundamental or fundamentally! Overall, a toss-up. Although McCain wanting to use nuclear power plants doesn't sit well with me. I'm not totally educated on nuclear power but isn't that risky?

Both did well. I think Obama could have been a bit more forceful in his responses though.

Definitely McCain. Clear & Direct.

I was pissed off that neither would answer the question of how the financial meltdown would change their priorities, no matter how many ways Lehrer rephrased it.

That aside, I think their performances allow each side to sincerely believe their candidate won. McCain seemed scattered and irritable (what was with those stupid phony guffaws?) while Obama seemed more focused and much, much, MUCH more specific in his answers.

But, of course, that's how I viewed them going into the debate.

I think the real American Hero Won, we all know who I am speaking about.

sinxcosx13 saidDefinitely McCain. Clear & Direct.

Guess we didn't see the same debate. Obama was crisp, strong and made his points without attacking. In fact, he was far more Presidential in tone than McCain, who looked irritated, tired and recited a stream of lies. For example, his Eisenhower story was a fabrication -- Eisenhower NEVER wrote a letter of resignation. The list goes on and on and on.

Obama cleaned McCain's clock in the first half hour regarding the economy, tying him to the failed deregulatory policies of the Bush administration. His comments tying a strong economy to a strong foreign policy were very well done. His tax discussion was excellent and I also thought his healthcare segment was right on target.

I thought Obama won this debate decisively -- and it seems many of the pundits agreed. When conservative George Will on ABC says "Obama basically won the debate," the Republicans are in deep trouble!

Obama gave a very good accounting of himself, Damn It! Obama however, was talking tougher than I think he can back-up. But, it's good to hear.

McCain did appear a bit scattered and this is his strongest subject. McCain did address how he would make-up for the shortfall any bailout would cost by saying he would cut pork and freeze certain programs. He didn't say cut them, just freeze them at the current level until we could afford to spend more.

One point that Jim Lehrer made was "What would you do about such and such under your rule?" Neither brought up the point that they're running for president and not king. I was disappointed in both of them for not mentioning that. It was a missed opportunity. Some Americans are under the impression that presidents are kings and that's dangerous.

In some ways I think (grudgingly) Obama won on poise, although he did call McCain Jim a few times, or he looked at John and called him Jim. But, he was very well poised and more so than McCain.

On substance, I think McCain edged out Obama but not by much. My totally apolitical boyfriend watched it with me and he agreed with Obama on a couple of points and I think he's a good barometer of most buckeyes.

The bad thing about watching the debate together is, neither one of us were in the mood for fun afterward. Nothing like politics to stifle a labido.

B787, Ike wrote two letters, one to congratulate the troops for a victory and another of resignation accepting full responsibility for the defeat of the Normandy invasion. We know all about the one he sent. The other was left to obscurity.

McCain did make part of a quote by Sir Winston Churchill when he said of the financial problems that "this is not the beginning of the end of the problem but it is the end of the beginning". Those of us who admire Sir Winston don't need any attribution, but this sort of thing got Biden in some hot water in a speech once. Then again, the guy Biden quoted was still alive at the time.

JohnG16775 saidI think the real American Hero Won, we all know who I am speaking about.

We do?

Obama was more persuasive and balanced. I was impressed with his remarks about Afghanistan and Pakistan. He clearly understands the need to present a strong front to the world while following a policy of engagement.

Someone please by McCain a new pen!

Obama 1, McCain 0

2 cents from this navy guy

I think in order to win McCain had to decisively beat Obama. McCain did very well, and the two were on par with each other, pandering to their base. But McCain didn't have any sticking point that was different from the same old talking points and he didn't offer anything that the HRC supporters could identify with. So, while both did well it was a wash. Though McCain had more to lose because he is behind in national and key state polls.

meh.

neither, i was getting sick of mccain's heart warming stories that had me lost a few times... i dont agree with many of his views and I think he was too general in his answers... just my opinion. but i still dont think obama won this debate... so im leaving my answer to neither .

I wasn't all that impressed with this debate...it felt like they were rehashing one-liners to their opponent in the hopes that a label would stick or a soundbite would be used...

BORING. CLICHE.

- David

Really...win ? lose? Who gives a fcuk.....

Middle class American is the one who will really lose.
This election will be completely in the hands of the electoral.....

LOSE

dfrourke saidI wasn't all that impressed with this debate...it felt like they were rehashing one-liners to their opponent in the hopes that a label would stick or a soundbite would be used...

BORING. CLICHE.

- David

Agree, cept one thing. Obama's "You Were Wrong" speech.

Its something I'd like to say to every conservative and republican who voted for bush and who'll vote McCain.

I just finished watching the re-broadcast on CNN. Both candidates actually held my attention for the entire 90 minutes. I certainly saw more of the John McCain that I liked back in 2000. That said, I have to say that I was literally beaming with regard to Obama's composure, his articulation and his broad understanding of foreign policy. I didn't buy McCain's argument that his travels abroad necessarily equate to a better understanding, or a more profound wisdom, in terms of formulating 21st century foreign policy. I agreed with Obama that McCain's hyper focus upon Iraq neglects the much broader strategic battlefront in the "War on Terror."

I say both of them are the same and ignorant politicians. But I think Obama is way smarter than McCain in economy and foreign policy. I feel like I am wasting my time watching them. McCain studdered and Obama was smooth.

Kind of ironic that McCain agreed with the war and war spending and is now preaching on lowering spending. $3trillion for a war and only $800 Million for a health care coverage for the masses... That is so odd...

It was not 15 minutes into it and I crashed like a lead ballooon

If you were listening on the radio
the debate was a lot closer than it actually was
But watching it Barack Obama was confident, calm and collected in his
reasoning and answering the questions both Lehrer and McCain threw at his
Grampy seemed stilted and angry much of the time

.. and the entire time he Never looked at Obama
Not very Presidential if you ask me and the polls after the debate bare that out

It's a tough call. I think expectations were so low for John McCain that he appeared to hold his own and thus I would say he gained the most from the debate. Obama was slick and eloquent, but not necessarily convincing.

I have to say McCain won overall, came across like he (mostly) knows what he's talking about unlike Obama's populist cliches - BUT I'm not American and if I were I'd probably vote for Obama so don't flame me. Just saying what I thought about the debate

Squarejaw saidI was pissed off that neither would answer the question of how the financial meltdown would change their priorities, no matter how many ways Lehrer rephrased it.

I laughed my ass off. Here's his words exactly as he tried to ask the same question a third (or fourth?) time:

"Let me say before we go to another lead question. Let me see if I can figure out a way to again ask the same question a different...a sightly different way here. Are you...are you willing to acknowledge, BOTH of you, that this financial crisis is going to effect the way. ...YOU ....RULE ....the country as president of the United States beyond...the kinds of things that you've already sss....I mean is it a major mooooove ...is it going to have a major effect?"

But ...
given that this was Gramps time to shine
Being that this was his supposed field of foreign policy

There is No Way you can say that he really won

See? I told you the not looking at him thing was gonna get noticed

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I wasn't glued to the TV for the debates, but what I did catch seemed like a draw. The pundits are saying Obama was "bloodless", he could have gotten more or deeper jabs at McCain. Seems like the big problem for McCain was hardly looking at Obama. He came across almost rude & superior, less presidential than Obama.