Debate II Live Blogging

8:16p-- It's apparent McCain has come out swinging. But Obama is giving substantial answers and not just attacks.

8:23p-- Wow, McCain really is swinging. Not sure any of it's landing but he is swinging. Wonder if Obama is going to pick up the slack.

8:27p-- Not sure I like the format of this debate. The discussion period doesn't have anything to do with the audience's questions.

8:28p-- Again, another Obama answer that doesn't rebut McCain. John is allowed to just lay out attacks freely it seems.

8:31p-- Seems as if Obama's strategy is to let McCain attack freely. I agree it makes McCain look desperate. But some of these things have to be checked. So far I'm giving this debate to McCain.

8:37p-- Obama just gave one of the most incoherent responses I've ever heard. And then when Obama's done, McCain stands up and takes a swing at Obama's economic policies with a jello comment.

8:46p-- Man McCain is swinging for the stars here. I don't think there has been one single answer that he hasn't attacked Obama with. Eventually he's going to run out of attacks and be forced to repeat himself.

8:47p-- Oh my did I just hear Obama attack McCain's record on the environment???

8:52p-- I like Obama's answer on health care. But I'm waiting for the McCain attack.

8:53p-- McCain attacks health care stance with complete lies. I'll give him credit for wanting to brawl but he's not honest, not in the least on health care.

9:01p-- Tom Brokaw should have never let McCain get the crack in there about the fine on health care. Should never have happened. It's time for Obama to get serious.

9:08p-- I'm not even sure what the Obama Doctrine was supposed to be. But I did like Obama's response about Iraq having nothing to do with 9/11.

9:20p-- Obama wins foreign policy round. McCain is furious that Obama actually stood up for himself. McCain is a loose cannon. Wants people to think that he's going to be a rational president but can't even keep his temper in a town hall.

It's finally over. I found the format to be extremely un-doable for a debate. I also don't think Tom Brokaw should moderate a high school speech team any time in the near future.

For my final scoring here are my thoughts. On who got the most attacks in there's no doubt McCain wins. On substance and style hands down Obama. McCain seemed irritated most of the night. He was condescending and more often than not he was rude. McCain had one objective in this debate and that was to shore up his base. And the only way to do that was to attack, attack attack. Republicans want personal, demeaning attacks. Remember these are the same people who spent $72 million on impeaching President Clinton and only $7 million on the 9/11 Commission. Their priorities are obviously the politics of personal destruction and nothing to do with substantive policy making. These were the people McCain needed to win over tonight. He probably did that but it's doubtful he made a good impression on the undecideds.

In that regard, McCain accomplished his goal. The only thing he didn't do that his campaign surrogates have this week was call Obama a terrorist and lead a chant to "kill him." Obama, however, held his own and brushed off McCain's personal tirades. This was McCain's supposed territory remember? McCain wanted town hall after town hall. This is where McCain supposedly exceeds and relates to the average voter. Obama was unfazed and much more presidential.