I think John McCain did MUCH, MUCH better in this debate. Finally, he distinguished himself from the man whom he continually vexed for eight years: “Sen. Obama, I am not President Bush. If you wanted to run against President Bush, you should have run four years ago.”
Bob Schiefer did a good job too, raising the issues of Barack Obama’s radical connections and abortion. But, again, I don’t think issues matter in this race. People are in a panic over the economy and want not specific solutions, which no one really has, but someone to save them.
Obama came across as cool, calm, and in control; he seemed like someone people can put their trust in. So no matter how radical and pro-abortion he may be, it will make no difference. This is going to be a religious election–not necessarily in a transcendent, spiritual sense (though for some it may be), but in a parallel secular sense–and Americans are going to put their faith in Obama.