DEBATE COMMENTS ...

While I think the blow by blow on the foreign policy issues produced a draw, Obama clearly won on style and expectations.

This was McCain's stage, and his opportunity to bury Obama on foreign policy/commander-in-chief issues. It didn't happen. John McCain never looked at Obama, and seemed surly. Obama looked calm and patient. Perhaps more importantly, because foreign policy was supposed to be his primary weakness, by standing toe to toe with McCain on the issues Obama came out ahead on this one.

McCain did make a couple of mistakes. Pakistan was not a "failed state" when Musharraf came to power (in a military coup). He also seemed to elevate Obama's foreign policy mojo by trying to paint Obama as potentially wreckless for wanting to go after al Qaeda in Pakistan. Obama actually looked better, and more presidential, after the fact.

Again, this was McCain's stage. It should have been a cakewalk. Instead, it was a draw on the issues. Obama won.

- Mark

UPDATE: I can't believe I forgot to write this one down ... As Joe Biden points out, McCain made another mistake. McCain can't distinguish between strategy and tactics. Here's Biden explaining it ...