'Barack Obama delivered his strongest ever debate performance on Tuesday night to deny John McCain a comeback in his faltering presidential campaign.
McCain, losing ground in the polls as the Republicans bear the brunt of public anger at the economic crisis, needed a game changing moment in the debate. It did not materialise.
Instead, Obama did better than expected, delivering crisper and less academic answers than he did in his earlier encounters against Hillary Clinton during the primary campaign. He also made more of an effort to connect emotionally with the experience of ordinary Americans.
The town hall debate at Nashville's Belmont University offered a mix of questions from the studio audience and the internet. It produced a more substantive airing of the candidate's views on the economic meltdown and healthcare reform than the first encounter nearly two weeks ago.
The format initially was thought to favour McCain's relaxed and humourous style.
But the Republican seemed uncomfortable, jumping up from his high chair to march towards the audience, and rambling in his answers. At one point, he referred to Obama as "that one" - a reference that caused some women in the audience to wince.'
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/oct/08/uselections2008.johnmccain1
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