First Presidential debate running commentary thread

[Reluctant Republican]

Did Ralph Nader and the other third party candidates file any lawsuits this year to try to open the debate? And can we expect to see McKinney or someone get arrested tonight trying to get into the thing?

As for the debate itself, I expect it to be  a letdown. We’ll see though, I do hope the candidates call each other out and we get a bit of conflict throughout the night.

[Reluctant Republican]

I like the "hands off" approach the moderator's taking. You find out more about how where the candidates stand on the varying issues, I think.

[Reluctant Republican]

I'd say Obama just gave a nice soundbite that's going to get alot of play.

[Reluctant Republican]

I'd say Obama just gave a nice soundbite that's going to get alot of play.

Which one?

That whole part where he listed all the areas McCain was wrong about the war. I thought it was effective, at least.

[Reluctant Republican]

Why is everyone in this thread so hackish?

Personally, I don't think that either of them are doing so well.

Indeed. Either way, I think Obama wins this one. He was leading before it, and since McCain has so far failed to really be considered the "victor" of this debate, he's the loser by default. But we still have half the debate left, on what's supposed to be McCain's best issue. Let's see if he can turn it around.

[Reluctant Republican]

I think Mccain's gotten better, but he's sounding too mean for the average voter I think. May be  a turn off.

[Reluctant Republican]

At this rate T. Boone Pickens won’t have any energy policy to discuss after the debate. I think McCain may have mentioned energy once, but that’s it.

[Reluctant Republican]

Well that was fun.