Who do you think won the debate?

[Ryan!]

Just like the title says. McCain, Obama, or a tie. How do you feel it went down?

[Dean]

I think it's clear that Obama won, and the two polls that I've heard...

CNN:
54% - Obama
30% - McCain

CBS News:
39% - Obama
35% - Draw
27% - McCain
(lol 101%)

[Joseph Stalin]

Obama, without a doubt. He got in a lot of great burns, and was just on the ball. He was cool and confident the entire time, and McCain was incredibly restless.

[Blacklotus]

Yeah, the podiumless format really didn't flatter McCain. He was pacing and shifting the whole night. If it weren't for that I'd probably be tempted to call it a tie.

[shortkut]

at first i was afraid the media would only focus on how mccain attacked obama and how he didn't respond (mostly because he couldn't). as it went on, it became obvious that obama had answers to every question (except who would you name as secretary of the treasury, but neither answered that well since any answer is a death sentence). it showed how knowledgeable he was and how anyone who said his only message was change but not how to change was wrong. obama clearly won this debate.

[Dean]

More results:

http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReportPopup.aspx?g=55bbbb41-b3aa-4ab2-8d18-a5b97b95b6c4&q=50455

(Obama: 56%; McCain 26%; Tie/Undecided: 18%)

http://mediacurves.com/

(Among Republicans: Obama: 20%; McCain: 68%; Unsure: 12%)
(Among Democrats: Obama: 84%; McCain: 10%; Unsure: 6%)
(Among Independents: Obama: 52%; McCain: 34%; Unsure: 14%)

[The Eye in the Sky!]

Obama. McCain just looked awkward and dodgy. For the first time in a long time I was not absolutely disgusted with both candidates. Just one.

[Chris!]

It's too bad that they could make attacks at each other and neither could respond. Obama had an advantage though, he engaged the whole audience, moved around a lot, and sympathized with all of them. McCain seemed focused on who answered the question.

Obama also made his plans and points very clear, while McCain continued the same "you don't understand" line that lost him the last debate.

[Crazy Jamie]

I'll try to get to watch it at some point, but the analysis over here that I've seen has pointed towards a clear Obama victory. That could well lay the result of the election to rest.

[shortkut]

It's too bad that they could make attacks at each other and neither could respond. Obama had an advantage though, he engaged the whole audience, moved around a lot, and sympathized with all of them. McCain seemed focused on who answered the question.

Obama also made his plans and points very clear, while McCain continued the same "you don't understand" line that lost him the last debate.
he added a new line: "i know what i'm doing"

[Dean]

John McCain also said the word "my friends" about 20 times...

And called Obama "That one."

EDIT:

Looks like www.thatone08.com is trying to make some moolah off this... haha.

[~The Juice~]

If you say McCain it is because you never really cared what Obama was talking about and you are obviously a close minded staunch republican.


so obviously Obama won... lol

[dimmerwit]

That's the thing though. Obama won because people liked his ideas better, his debating skills weren't any better IMO.

[Dean]

They really didn't engage very much in terms of actually debating or even talking to one another. They faced the crowd, the camera, the moderator (Brokaw), etc. But rarely did they actually come close to one another or make an effort. But on the few occasions they did, Obama was clearly superior. Think back to the tiff they had over the "wet behind the ears/green behind the ears" stuff. Obama set McCain up for a great blow by bringing up his "Bomb, bomb, Iran" comment. Or look at the way Obama was able to promote his proposals.

I certainly don't see it as being a groundbreaking debate, but in terms of the time spent discussing and even debating, Obama was a clear victor here.