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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

Both my wife and I thought it was hillarious when McCain said he’d pursue Bin Laden or someone to the “4 corners of the earth”.
Now he finally admits to believing the earth is flat. ;-)

- Posted by mike

John Sidney McCain? What a joke of a name. I can’t follow Sidney anywhere. Sidney looked haggard and for all the hype about town hall meetings, Sidney looked like a school girl on the playground.

No way no how on Sidney. I’m voting for Obama, not Sidney!

- Posted by amanda

Obama of course, as expected!

- Posted by FN

While I admit the Obama is not as experienced as John MaCain, neither is the current president. I respect John MaCain for his military experiences but he is just a tired OLD man and he needs to retire.

- Posted by Walt

“Yes or no is the only answer for this next question” Obama goes on for 2 minutes never picking one.

Yes… obama wins… for dodging every single question like a true politician… yes real “Change” from the status quo.

- Posted by Ben

The grant of federal funds for the planetarium is perfect proof of Obama’s uncontrollable knee-jerk reaction to ask the feds for taxpayer’s money went the state can get the job done on their own.

Minneapolis also wanted to enhance it’s planetarium but requested $24,000,000 from it’s own state coffers and $4,000,000 from private benefactors. For a lousy $3,000,000 Obama figured that would be a burden on the people of Chicago and asked the feds to kick in.

The devil is in the details. This guy is the biggest financial zero I have seen since my father first introduced me to presidential politics on 1960.

The axion is “Follow the Money”. You want to know who Obama really is ask this question: “Who is asking for themoney?” This chump held his hand out for $1,000,000 a day for every day he was in the Senate.

Mark down this date. Circle it on your calendar. If Obama gets in, and implements his
tax plans unemployment will soar and no matter what the bailout people are saying this country will be teetering on the brink of the financial abyss. As Hoover discovered never raise taxes on anyone when the economy is in trouble. If you have to ask why, there’sno point in even answering the question.

- Posted by Greg Marlowe

As someone who resides in Chicago and has seen firsthand the “projector” McCain lauded about, I would say that was one of the better projects that recieved cash in Chicago.

The Adler Planetarium is visited by hundreds of schools yearly. I remember going myself as a young child, and being amazed at our wonderful world.

The “projector” used in the planetarium was old and was beginning to have service issues repeatedly. The money spent to update the equipment and give our children the gift of knowledge associated with that project, was wisely spent and to watch McCain attack that makes me wonder who he really is working for.

I am very thankful that Mr. Obama helped to fund that project and I am sure my son will appreciate it as well when he gets to go experience it firsthand.

- Posted by Dave

The debate was truly a contest between somebody who thinks because he served in the military he now has the experience and insight to lead this nation…All I can say if he ever gets elected God help us all… Obama clearly won

- Posted by john true

Obama won. Reading some of these posts makes me realize just how clueless and prejudiced some people are. McCain, great man, but old-thinking, archaic conservativism is done.

- Posted by Giovanna

Palin has less experience than Obama. McCain is 72 years old and the odds are good that Palin could be the next President of the USA. Why doesn’t that scare everyone out of their minds? I just don’t get it. Obama is the clear choice. Obama won the debate and I really hope he wins the election.

- Posted by Greg

I’m a teenager who’s very conservative, and while I support McCain, I’d have to say that Obama won last night’s debate. I noticed that both tended to beat around the bush and not directly answer the question. They would sometimes go off on random tangents that had nothing to do with a given question. But when that happened, I think Obama did a better job of redirecting himself. Both candidates also tended to repeat themselves a lot. One thing that bugged the crud out of me about McCain, is that whenever he talked, his eyes flutter and he ends of blinking too much. Regardless, I’m still in favor of McCain. However, it doesn’t matter who lands in the White house in a couple of weeks, we Americans are still going to be living in a nightmare. One other note about Obama. He keeps saying he’s going to bring “change.” COME ON!!! Is that not something that a fifth grader might say to be elected as ASB president at school? During the Vice Presidential Debate, Biden and Palin were asked “What promises have you made that you won’t be able to keep”? Palin basically said that they hadn’t made any promises they couldn’t keep, which IS TRUE. McCain and Palin simply haven’t made any promises nor said specifically (if not at all) what they’re going to change. Biden was upfront and admitted that they had made some promises along the way that they probably won’t be able to keep. Of course, no one caught that because everyone was too doggone focused on how “passionate” he was when he spoke. How “emotional” he got at times during the debate. Where the heck did they (the media) pull that? He was talking about an accident several years ago that involved two of his sons, I think it was, and his wife. He paused at one point to catch his breath and swallow before continuing on, and what does the media do? They blow that WAY out of porportion and somewhere out of that they pull the “look how passionate he is” junk on us. Good Grief! Give me a cotton-picking break!

- Posted by Rae

Obama won! Hands down. No contest. Crystal clear.

- Posted by Vivian

Obama won the debate last night. McCain has become too desperate and continued to attack as usual.

- Posted by NeedChange

I was watching the debate with my 12 year old. I think kids can sometimes intuit things that grown-ups tend to ignore. First of all, every time John McCain said “my friends,” the kid’s response was “EWWW! creepy” (We’ve always taught him to be wary of strangers who try to buddy up to you.) Then when McCain mentioned something about the 4 corners of the world, the kid response was “Oh my gosh! He still thinks the world is flat!” I tend to agree with him on both counts.

- Posted by tired of it

Obama was simplistic and stupid as usual.
McCain was boring as usual

- Posted by Simon

Good Forum to see the candidates in action. Obama has a calmness and is able to clearly articulate the issues. McCain showed his age with his repetitions,forgetfulness,
and thinking his “schmoozing” would gather votes. CEOs are not sharing the burdens of society , but walking away with stacks of unearned money. Well the chickens have come back to roost, something will to be done about the CEOs.

- Posted by J.A. Free

Both McCain and Obama looked very even during the debate. I thought both of them weren’t extremely interesting; the debate brought up few new issues. Both seemed arrogant on time constraints and it looked like they were bickering. Hopefully the Town Hall won’t be tried again, as Tom Brokaw was having a fit (rightfully so) with the candidates not following the rules.

If I had to pick a winner, it would probably be Obama by a hair. But still, that’s just barely. It was very mediocre.

- Posted by Sean

Obama won this debate hands down. The choice is simple if you want change vote Obama. If you want to continue on the course that we are on vote Mccain. Not much else to discuss or debate.

- Posted by Eddie Fullbright

Hey Reuters readers- there is actually objective news coming out of CNN…
Lou Dobbs: Wall Street Bailout Fraud - Acorn Under Investigation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ2CBL19v B4

WHY WASN\’T THIS BROUGHT UP IN THE DEBATES???????

- Posted by Bob Jones

MCCAIN WON.

He has been in the darkest, most hopeless hours and I think that it will be nothing compared to what lies ahead of us.

I hope America isn’t stupid enough to vote for an elitist like Obama with no experience, no track record, and no record of bipartisanship. If Obama wins this country will be torn apart.

- Posted by jermaine

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