I cannot say that I saw the whole thing, but definitely the majority of it.
First, both candidates did a good job in playing offense and defense. I’m glad McCain did not hold back in throwing punches, forcing Obama to play defense on the main issues: national security, foreign policy, and the economy. Many times when McCain was on the attack, you can see Obama shaking his head, signaling to the moderator that he’d like to rebuke, and just looking plain annoyed.
The best line from McCain? Something to the extent that Obama is so far left that he has a hard time reaching that far across the aisle. That’s the McCain we know!
Second, Obama follows through on his “Change we can believe in” mantra to paint his opponent as another Bush. Several times during the debate he brings up Bush and labels McCain a “Bush supporter.” This is an obvious scare tactic. The Obama campaign wants voters to view McCain as old school Washington. Did McCain hurt himself when he kept on referring to his background and experience? Maybe, but I’d like to think that Americans still long for the comfort of knowing McCain’s history and how that’s shaped him. We want change, but change in the right direction.
Third, I think McCain kicked butt in topics relating to foreign policy and the military. McCain’s vast knowledge and experience helped him substantiate his claim that Obama holds a naive world view.
The V.P. debate in the coming weeks would be closely watched: Palin vs. Biden. Again, we have a younger, less experienced Gov. Palin up against the experienced Sen. Biden. This election surely boils down to Old vs. New.
