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16:54 October 7th, 2008

Round 2 is over — which way are undecided voters swinging?

Posted by: Jeremy Pelofsky
Tags: Front Row Washington, , ,

rtx9bhu.jpgRound two of the presidential debates between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama is over.

How did they do?

The town hall format was seen as an advantage for McCain. Did he live up to expectations?

Obama has been gaining an edge in many battleground states. Did he do anything to undermine or enhance his small lead?

Did they focus enough on the issues? Were undecided voters swayed?

Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage 

- Photo credit: Reuters/Carlos Barria

185 comments so far

I’m not American and no favouring anyside. The Presidency should be given to a person who is Open to feedback and has sound logic and who cares for people. Sure McCain is a war hero but the issue is whether he would be a good President. Race and religion are fears that are interfering with people’s judgement. Put them aside and it is clear that Obama is more confident, clear and cohesive

- Posted by Cletus Fernandes

KEATING ECONOMICS, just google that… if you are undecided, you won’t be after that. OBAMA is the man for the job… a job that is going to take all the strength and mental ability, clear thinking, leadership, and willingness to try NEW IDEAS that can be mustered. McCain is too old. He looks sickly. He was leaning on everything, chairs, and the railings. He was so worn out midway… he is not qualified …. he hasn’t got the stamina and the mindset needed to address all the issues that will need someone to jump out of the gate running. McCain votes against every major funding bill for the TROOPS Can you believe that? Just google KEATING, CHARLES KEATING and see how heavily involved McCain was for his association with this benefactor who by the way was indicted for his wrong doing in his company. McCain was involved in using his power to get deregulation passed so this best pal’s company would benefit and not be investigated. The bailout payout then was to the tune of $3.4BILLION, does that ring a bell folks? $700BILLION bailout. This man is wrong and this ticket is wrong.

- Posted by jaJ

OBAMA, when was the last time you heard about Bin Laden from anyone in the BUSH CAMP OR MCCAIN? OBAMA is not as strong on every single foreign issue, but the leadership is clearly there, and he has better insight, and is willing to find a way to work things out, but not afraid to defend if needed. He has a good balance. He has the strength to withstand what will be the most difficult role any president will face as we have major and multiple domestic and foreign and GLOBAL issues. McCain will be more of the same. And when it comes to record, McCain does not have a very good one, either with middle class concerns, nor with Vietnam Vetrans. That alone speaks volumes. His voting record in the Senate has been many votes of NO for Troop improvements he shot down. How in the world does that make him a hero now?

I was very proud of OBAMA. He can do the job. I find truth in him. I find lies in McCain. I find the common man and the common ground in OBAMA, I find division and hidden agendas with McCain. I find ability, and youth, with OBAMA. I find worn out ideas, or stolen ideology and lots of aging factors that are very troublesome with McCain.

- Posted by jaJ

The “Old Man” McCain is a man of the past using the outdated Arkansas Model(the model used by Hilary “the Monster” Clinton)
H B Obama is a man of future.
The economy is centre stage and the “Old Man” knows little of economics policy(He showed it the other day with his opportunistic trip to DC and his part in Paulson Plan failed at a cost of one trillion dollars to investors

- Posted by Bostonred

John MCcain lost Colorado tonight.

Republican state no more!

- Posted by Denver Dan

Oboma won the debate big time, no doubt! He is composed just like the president—

- Posted by Char Vansi

As an independent, I thought both candidates aquitted themselves quite well. The bonus bailout plan and the taxable $5k health care program (esp. for me, as mine is worth $15k - I don’t want to cut my coverage by two-thirds!) do not sit well with me; I must lean towards “that one”.

- Posted by Vincent Truman

McCain is campaigning for the 1968 election. A time where we didn’t have the knowledge and research available concerning global and local events. McCain speaks to the “65″ group — those over the age of 65, and those under the IQ of 65.

Obama speaks to the rest of us. He speaks to an educated voter. A voter who is cognizant that the current administration, and for that matter conservatives in general, are in it for themselves. We now know what cutting taxes does…it puts public money which is ours, into the hands of private corporations which is there’s.

The wasn’t a debate. There was nothing to win or lose. McCain speaks and touts a continuation of a failed nation. Anyone who doesn’t see that, better buy a gun and store water and canned goods in the bomb shelter. A vote for McCain will totally erase the modicum of good will remaining for America around the world today.

- Posted by David Campbell

Did Obama favors we can’t chhose our own health care, and it has to be chosen by the government? What’s up with that? That means the government’s going to choose the heath care physician, istead of we choose the doctor. What happens if we run out of doctors? Where do we go from there?

- Posted by Sang

Hey Toronto, Canada - Are you a US Citizen? If not, how about saving your opinions for your own country’s debates. This will be our president, not yours. This is our country, not yours. One of the candidates, howver, seems to forget what country he is running to lead. He felt it necessary to pander to crowds in Europe instead of staying here and talking to Americans. You know, the trip where he did not have time to visit American troops, and cancelled that leg of his journey when he found out the cameras and the press would not be following him.

- Posted by Pawprints
———————
Okay Pawprints McCain IV, this is exactly how the current administration has treated many foreign countries and this is why we have lost standing in the world. The rest of the world is VERY interested in ALL of our presidential elections and WHO we elect as president affects the rest of the world. Our President is not in a box, what our President does impacts the entire world, not ONLY America! There is nothing wrong with our neigbors voicing their opinions.

- Posted by NinaK

I think Barack Obama came across as a more genuine person who cares about the people who have not enjoyed the excesses of the privileged. I sometimes think the people who are in control, like corporate executives for instance, totally disregard everyone else but themselves.

That’s not an America I can be proud of. Obama best represents my thinking. McCain just sounds so out of touch.

- Posted by Delia Ordonez-Tate

John Sydney McCain III (yes that is his full name), although you felt “town halls” were your strength, it is obvious that you have never faced opposition to your responses. Barak Hussein Obama beat you at your own game.

Sorry John, you are on the wrong side of history, and Sarah’s 15 minutes are almost up.

- Posted by Mike

John McCain looks smaller and smaller every time that he appears beside Barack Obama. I can see the day coming very soon when he will be completely irrelevant. Definitely NOT presidential material.

- Posted by Roberta

I give McCain big thumbs up. Obama desn’t have a foreign p9olicy experien ce when it comes to running the world. President of the United Sttes oversees the nation and the world, however, Obama isn’t up to challenge, due to debate with John McCain. An experienced president knows how to solve the worl criss, and that’s Sen. John McCain.

- Posted by Sang

What a big difference between the two candidates!! John McCain looked like he was having difficulty walking and looked old and worn out. In contrast, Senator Obama looked refreshed, vigorous, articulate, and presidential. Who do you want representing the United States of America?? Who do you want communicating and working with other world leaders and heads of states?? Who do you think will move our country forward? Who do you think will lift us out of our economy crisis, job losses, home foreclosures, loss of retirement funds, etc.?

- Posted by NinaK

McCain won because he has policies and statements grounded in real life accomplishments. Obama say’s what many people want to hear but has just the opposite in true voting records. Too much like a used car salesman. I don’t need that extra ashtray in the back seat, i gave up smoking years ago and i cannot afford it. Look at the economy today and think if you will get even half of what Obama is promising. If he is elected, the number of prescriptions for Prozac will go through the roof.

- Posted by Tenacious Moses

Obama obviously won. McCain comes across as old, desperate, condescending, entitled to the Presidency instead of “THAT one”, with inappropriate attempts at humor; there’s a phoniness and shallowness to McCain … shallow, that’s the word I’ve been searching for for quite some time to pinpoint about what’s “off” about John McCain. He doesn’t strike me as intelligent either … in that regard he reminds me of Bush. He also comes across as being full of hubris and bluster rather than ideas. Also he comes across as someone who’d just as soon go to war with you than talk to you … not much of a diplomat. He also has repeatedly displayed … disturbingly strange … foreign policy blunders and inaccuracies. Obama won. He looked confident, cool, collected, steady, calm. I thought for McCain … after McCain’s bazaar VP pick and his erratic antics of the last 2 weeks … for McCain to bring up a couple of times “You need a cool” … not sure that was the exact word … but “cool hand at the tiller” … I thought this reflected McCain being out of touch with his own erratic behavior to think that he’s the “cool hand at the tiller” when in fact his judgment and behavior has been quite questionable. Disturbing.

- Posted by Audrey

McCain needs to appeal to the fears of Americans who already harbor them, like the guy named “George” who posted up there. Hire some outside groups to focus on Obama being black and Muslim, even though he isn’t a Muslim. The Swiftboat guys did the smear job well, McCain needs to do the same thing.

- Posted by Tony Olson

It’s amazing how a near majority could go for one unproven candidate and ran on the theme of change and unity (Oh my, did we forget our history) Bush and now again go for another one. It’s scary. And if you doubt that fact about Bush please do some research. I’m a Dem but have little respect now for a candidate who snubbed Clinton and who is supported by (Oh my, many racists (over 80% for Obama - if that’s not racism well I guess it needs a new definition) and many sexists - and ladies women can be also). It’s simply disgusting. I am so disappointed by the American public right now. You voted for what’s in there now and it’s scary to look towards what the future holds. When will my fellow Americans learn and have some backbone. Stop the racism, sexism, elitism, leftism and rightism. I want someone who will work for all people and care about the middle class, our financial future and stability. I am just sick and tired of the ignorance out there. Please vote but I will hold you responsible if America falls further down the horrible path it appears to be going. Why didn’t you people vote in the previous election or care at all?

- Posted by CJ

Watching the debate from outside United States, I feel there is a shocking ignorance within the debate. My honest feeling is, the candidates are just pouring words that the American audience would like to listen. And then, who are these American audience? They are the ones who would like to spend most of the time watching ‘prison Break’. Its a pity that the presidential candidates are thinking more about America when they are talking about addressing issues like poverty and hunger in developing countries. Astonishing was some of the comments of attacking Pakistan, Iran and Elsewhere…I am not surprised why US is on the downturn…maybe the McCain camp has to understand more about peace and love and not violence.

- Posted by John Calder

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