This was a hectic weekend, but I finally had a chance to put some of my notes from the debate on here...

I watched the debate on CNN HD and was interested to see they had the audience reaction meter, even though Jim Leher said they were to be quiet - so what audience was it? A selected CNN audience off site, or did they have a button to rate on site...

CNN also had a scorecard from analysts with pluses and minuses throughout. They used Paul Begala, Bill Bennett, Gloria Borger, Donna Brazile, Alex Castellanos and John King.

While this was interesting, this was exactly the reason why I recommended watching the debate on PBS or C-Span, or listening on an unbiased source such as XM's POTUS '08. The problem that arises is you've got heavily partisan folks like Paul Begala and Donna Brazile for instance, which influences the opinions of the audience.

I really liked how Leher directed the candidates to speak to one another, rather than to him, but saw what appeared to be absolute hatred toward the other candidate - on both sides. Neither candidate was impressive when it came to the bailout as when asked what programs they would cut - both were squeamish and just stated what was important, although McCain focused on cutting spending. Were they afraid of upsetting certain voter groups by cutting a program? Probably, but it looked like weak leadership from the rest of us.

McCain got some huge points from me when he vowed to cut ethanol subsidies as I'm vehemently against them. McCain also was smart to bring up Obama's own statement of meeting leaders of hostile countries with no preconditions. Obama's response was essentially that as President he can meet with whomever he wants, and that McCain's advisor - Henry Kissinger - agreed with Obama. Kissinger wasn't too happy about this mischaracterization and said so:

"Senator McCain is right. I would not recommend the next President of the United States engage in talks with Iran at the Presidential level. My views on this issue are entirely compatible with the views of my friend Senator John McCain. We do not agree on everything, but we do agree that any negotiations with Iran must be geared to reality."

Finally, I noticed that Obama was trying in vain to compare McCain to Bush and equating it as a third term. While folks such as myself will always feel this is untrue - McCain wasn't conservative enough for the base - and those heavily in the Obama camp will cite the 90% voting record with George Bush, the connecting of the two hasn't gone anywhere. The campaign has gone on for long enough where we know the basics of each candidate. Those left undecided are trying to fine-tune the issues, but won't be swayed by someone trying to redefine the other person. McCain is guilty as well, in painting Obama as inexperienced, but was able to pull it off somewhat better by keeping Obama on the defensive the whole evening, with Obama many times breaking the first rule of the campaign and telling your opponent they are right.

As mentioned before, the debate was, in hindsight, a draw, but if there had to be a winner, it was McCain. Furthermore, as the Drudge poll showed, an overwhelming majority of folks believe that McCain indeed did win. Of course, as is typical, those with a certain agenda to push will write off these as being biased, and cite their own polls/studies as being the correct ones.