Christopher Coffey
Republican Political Consultant

A Style Over Substance Win For Obama but McCain Stays In the Game

Senator Obama won, but there is still hope for the McCain campaign.  Don’t get me wrong, many of Obama’s proposals threaten the economy, however his eloquence and lithe presentation delivered victory.

Style over substance… but a win is a win.

Even though Senator McCain desperately needed a big success this evening, he still performed admirably, which gives me hope for his campaign. McCain established his credentials as a government reformer and focused attention on the economy.  He hammered away at the causes of this financial crisis and even identified a solution—the stabilization of home prices.  Though I am scratching my head about the government intervention and costs needed for such a plan, it is still one that McCain can champion from now until Election Day.

James P. Pinkerton
Writer and Columnist, The American Conservative magazine/FOX News Political Contributor

This is the last of the debates that any significant number of people is going to watch… my friends.

Cal Thomas
Syndicated Columnist/FOX News Political Contributor

What was lacking in this town hall forum was a challenge to the American people from the two men wish to lead it. It was all about government — what it should and shouldn’t do. Where was a clarion call from Senators McCain and Obama that “you can do it America” and that the strength and power of this country is not in Washington, but in the minds and hearts of our fellow citizens. It wasn’t government that made America great but the ingenuity, risk and sacrifice of its people.

This debate tonight sounded like a couple of insiders engaging in inside baseball. “Without a vision the people perish.” The people seem to be perishing. Where is the vision? It was the bland leading the blind. Neither guy “won” and so neither did the public.

Andrea Tantaros
Republican Political Commentator

McCain was tough but he didn’t deliver a knockout.  He did what he needed to do which was step up his game and avoid error.  He was solid where it counted: the economy, and convincing voters he’s ready on day one. His latest, and seemingly last minute, proposal to have the government spend billions to buy failing mortgages could turn around the ship if messaged effectively in the days that follow. But it could be kryptonite with fiscal conservatives.

As the frontrunner Obama needed to hold the line tonight, and he did. He likely won favor with undecided voters and women because of his ability to motivate through emotion and tap into the emotional component of viewers’ personal values.  He earned extra credit for his cool, confident demeanor.

The ruling? McCain won some rounds but the bout goes to Obama.

John Avlon
Author, “Independent Nation”

McCain is lucky that the debate ended on foreign policy — he has never been stronger or more eloquent on the subject, particularly in his closing statement.  But Obama owned the economic portion of the debate — which is the most urgent in this election — showing greatly improved ability to connect with voters and frame his policy positions in ways that are relevant to people’s lives.  They both also started making the missing “fiscal responsibility” argument in this economic crisis. Advantage Obama.

Lanny Davis
Former White House Special Counsel/FOX News Political Contributor

Each man accomplished what he set out to do:

–Senator Obama stayed serious, specific on issues, and came across as likable and even presidential.

–Senator McCain was tougher in challenging Senator Obama on the issues but stayed respectful and forceful, especially on foreign policy issues.

Bottom line:  This is 1960s all over again. Radio listeners probably thought the debate was pretty even. TV watchers will say Senator Obama “won” — because he looked and sounded younger, fresher, and therefore, more like the “change” candidate.  The data among undecided focus groups who watched TV are likely to favor Obama.

Bob Beckel
Democratic Campaign Strategist/FOX News Political Contributor

Obama clearly won this debate. In a twist John McCain did better on the economic answers than he did on foreign policy where Barack Obama excelled. The problem is McCain’s economic policy mirrors George Bush’s policies and the voters are not going to put up with 4 more years of Republicans running the economy into bankruptcy and recession.

Richard Miller
Author, “In Words and Deeds: Battle Speeches in History”

To use military analogies, McCain won some skirmishes but failed to break through and beyond his opponent’s defenses. He needed a stunning flank attack–like acknowledging the bailout’s burden, renouncing his tax and spending plans and thus leveling with the American people. It didn’t happen and was thus a draw–advantage, Obama.

Ellen Ratner
Bureau Chief Talk Radio News Service/FOX News Political Contributor

Both candidates did quite well and the undecided voters may feel that either Senator would be a reasonable leader. –It certainly seemed like a more thoughtful debate than what we experienced four years ago during the debates between Bush and Kerry.

The conventional wisdom going into the debate was that this format belonged to Senator McCain. Obama shined as he was personable, mentioned the local price of gas and really answered the citizen’s questions. Senator McCain wanted to be voice of experience and he was. Senator Obama’s answers to the questions were thoughtful and reasoned while Senator McCain looked as if he was determined to get out his talking points.

Bottom line for the undecided voter: The guy that you know and trust vs. the guy who has real new ideas and seems quite connected to the voter.

As Seen on FOX News Channel:

Mort Kondracke
Executive Editor, Roll Call/FOX News Political Contributor

It was up to John McCain to “change the game” somehow. And I didn’t hear it. McCain tried to make the case over and over that he was experienced, that he’s been there before and that Obama has never done anything and has no experience. That’s an old argument and it didn’t change the game.

Bill Kristol
Editor, The Weekly Standard/FOX News Political Contributor

Tom Brokaw, with all due respect to Tom Brokaw, thought it was his job to interview the next secretary of HHS (Health and Human Services).

Fred Barnes
Executive Editor, The Weekly Standard/FOX News Political Contributor

This was not a dull civics course but it was dull! You know the word that kept popping into my mind was “dreadful.”