Remember, last night was the first time a lot of people cared anything about the election

[Hokie]

Last night about 100 million people watched this debate. John McCain melodrama helped hype it up also. I know it is hard for all of us political junkies to fathom it but last night was the first time millions of people actually became interested in these two guys. What they saw was Obama being genuine, serious, thoughtful and more than up to the job. This is why it was Obama to do as well as he did. I think people can be comfortable with voting for him now. Most voters don't spend much time thinking about politics. I think Obama sealed the deal with the casual crowd last night. I think the polls next week will confirm that. McCain tried desperately to paint Obama as the young naive guy. It didn't work. The next two debates will be fun to watch but I believe they will be anti-climactic.

[FrenchieCat]

1. Aye!

Obama's strategy to have the confidence to be in agreement with McCain will pay off big time in his favorability numbers as well. Meanwhile, it made McCain look smaller and pettier, which will drive his favorables down.

But of course, some folks here don't get that yet.

[Hokie]

2. Aye! I get it.

[Higher Standard]

3. Agreed

McCain's people seem to be taking the wrong thing away from the times when Obama agreed with McCain. They believe they can spin it as Obama believing that McCain would be a good president. While I was viewing, though, what I found it emphasized was how much Obama was willing to give a political opponent credit while that opponent was going out of his way to give Obama none. Those of us who've been paying attention already know that McCain does not like Obama much, but this was a brilliant way to hyperemphasize how dismissive and petulant McCain was acting towards Obama. It was a trap that McCain clearly didn't see coming and didn't recognize for what it was.