Thanks Skipper. I'm disappointed with Obama, I'm ok with the fact he started nervous and then got it going after a couple of questions. Really owned McCain during the economy segments.

McCain missed chances to hammer his point home on Obama's earmarks, and Obama deftly sidestepped a trap question on which programs they would cut while McCain walked right into it and said he opposes Ethanol susidies (not going to be popular in places like Iowa) and that he would freeze spending on basically everything except National Defense. Obama didn't make him pay on that one tonight, but I bet his campaign will in the near future.

When it shifted to foreign policy, Obama should have had the edge on Iraq. There was one point where he said McCain was WRONG 3 or 4 times in a row and seemed like he was finally going to get tough, then he backed down. By the end, I got tired of him agreeing with McCain. It was a weak performance by Obama late in the debate, no doubt. He got McCain on Iran, but not as effectively as he should have.

In fact, Obama should have owned McCain on Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

Obama's problem is he can't just pick one or two things and hammer them home with power to make a point. He throws out one line from every possible subject, and it's just not effective.

McCain used his old Senate experience to hush him or talk over him a lot too, there was on point where it sounded like Obama stuttered for a good five seconds straight.

All in all, I'd say the debate was a tie.