Folks, remember one thing...all Obama needed was a tie...

[regnaD kciN]

I said it before the debate -- since this was on foreign policy, this was McCain's best, and possibly last, chance to take the command of this race. A tie would mean that McCain had failed to do that.

Instead, it was at worst a tie, and more probably a slight Obama victory.

McCain failed to do what he needed: to establish that Obama was a danger to our national security, a foolish dreamer without the judgment to be commander-in-chief. Instead, Obama came off as someone able to go toe-to-toe on foreign policy matters with a 26-year-veteran of the Senate and fight him to at least a draw, and possibly a narrow win.

McCain won't get this kind of chance again. Two more debates await, but one is dedicated to domestic policy, and the other a "town hall" forum that will have questions all over the map. (And then, of course, there's the Biden-Palin debate, which is sure to provide some entertainment from our point of view.) Whatever McCain may try, he's unlikely to have the chance to turn any encounter into a wall-to-wall surge-o-thon, as he had the chance to do (but didn't) this time around.

I'm not saying that we've got an easy route to the White House, but it sure got a lot easier after last night.

[DarthDem]

1. K & R

Good analysis. I thought Obama won easily because the substance was there, and because McCain's style was awful - - just awful. However, with a lead in the polls, and fighting on McCain's supposed "home turf," all Obama needed was a draw. And he had nothing that could remotely be construed as a gaffe - - not even close.

I think this is getting close to over. :bounce:

[FrenchieCat]

2. There is a ton of factual mistakes and mistatements that McCain made....

So it wasn't even close to a tie, imo.

WHy does our candidate have to be like a 12, and theirs can be a 4, and folks call it a tie. :shrug:

[RBInMaine]

3. I will agree that he needed to reassure voters he can hold his own on foreign policy, and he did.

People are looking for CHANGE. In this first one, Obama needed to reassure people he could be president. He needed to get to their "comfort" level. He about did that. I will say though that he needs to talk more from the gut, and he needs to pound home the CHANGE theme over and over and make it damn clear a THOUSAND times that McCain is MORE OF THE SAME, especially on the economy.
He needs to link McSAME to BUSH as though he were using super glue. And he needs a better closing that emphasizes the need to change the country and he IS the change and McSAME is not. So he missed some opportunities in the first one, although overall not bad. Also, don't keep AGREEING with McCain !

[mucifer]

4. it did stop the lunacy spiral for mcstupid's campaign and the media will

probably be nicer to him now.

[DCBob]

5. Even just no major screw ups would be good enough.

Obama did great.

[glowing]

6. This is the First debate.. McCain tried to skip it.. If Obama skewered

the old man on his own turff.. National Security, then Obama would look mean.. I think Obama in town hall will look very presidential compared to the old man tottering around and blinking all over.. (one problem with the SNL guy is that he doesn't blink enough in portraying McCain).

The final debate, I think will finish him off.. But McCain has to show up...