Top Items:
Brian Montopoli / CBS News:
Poll Results Suggest More Uncommitted Voters Saw Obama As Debate Winner — UPDATED WITH NEAR-FINAL NUMBERS CBS News and Knowledge Networks conducted a nationally representative poll of approximately 500 uncommitted voters reacting to the debate in the minutes after it happened.
RELATED:
Stephen F. Hayes / Weekly Standard:
TWS Exclusive: Kissinger Unhappy About Obama — Henry Kissinger believes Barack Obama misstated his views on diplomacy with US adversaries and is not happy about being mischaracterized. He says: “Senator McCain is right. I would not recommend the next President of the United States engage …
CNN:
Transcript of presidential debate — WASHINGTON (CNN ) — Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama debated on the campus of the University of Mississippi Friday night. The moderator for the debate was Jim Lehrer of the NewsHour on PBS. What follows is the full transcript of the debate:
Discussion:
The New Republic, The Moderate Voice, Agence France Presse, Washington Post, MyDD, Portfolio, New York Times, NewsBusters.org, Shakesville, ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES, Wonkette, Liberal Values, TalkLeft, Townhall.com, ProgressiveAccountability.org, PrestoPundit, THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS, Sister Toldjah and Media Blog
Mark Halperin / TIME.com:
Excerpts of Mark Halperin's Report Cards for the First Presidential Debate — Obama — Substance: His arguments were hard to follow at the beginning, but he found his voice as the debate progressed, although he never seemed fully in control of his message... If he truly knows more about the world …
The New Republic:
Focus Groups, Undecideds For Obama — For what it's worth: The Frank Luntz and Stanley Greenberg focus groups went overwhelmingly for Obama. And a CBS poll of undecideds went for Obama 40%-22%. Update : The CNN polls goes to Barack, 51%-38%. — Isaac Chotiner
Discussion:
Hullabaloo, Buck Naked Politics, Pam's House Blend, The Huffington Post, Firedoglake and Outside The Beltway
Marc Ambinder:
CBS News / Knowledge Network Undecideds Give Debate To Obama — According to CBS News / Knowledge Networks' poll of undecided voters:
Think Progress:
Presidential Debate Live-Blogging — 11:47: CNN's Roland Martin's reaction to the debate: “John McCain, how dare you come and give a debate and you don't even say the word ‘middle class.’” — 11:35: Fox pollster Frank Luntz's focus group showed that a majority was “moved” by Obama's performance.
Discussion:
Eunomia, The Huffington Post, The New Republic, The Mahablog, Taylor Marsh and Matthew Yglesias
TPM Election Central:
Initial Polls Show Obama Winning The Debate — Okay, we thought that McCain had a slight upper hand tonight (though we also said it wasn't a game changer, which is basically another way of saying that McCain didn't do what he had to). But the initial polls suggest that viewers give the nod to Obama in a big way.
Marisa Katz / Washington Post:
The Debate: The All-Important Grumpiness Factor — Here's the politically incorrect way of phrasing one of the central questions about tonight's presidential debate: Did John McCain come across as too much of a grumpy old man? — That might not be a nice question, but it's an important one.
Marc Ambinder:
The Rumble In Oxford: First Thoughts: — No memorable moments. — Fascinating body language. — No major gaffes by either candidates. — No major surprises. — Experience v. judgment — A good debate for both men. — The big policy news: McCain floated an across-the-board spending freeze (with a few exceptions).
Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
INITIAL REACTION: OBAMA WINS ON POINTS.... I'll have a more thought out reaction to the debate in the morning, but my insta-reaction was that Obama had the edge, on points. — I think a lot of observers go into a debate like this waiting for a knock-out blow, along the lines of a “You're no Jack Kennedy” moment.
CNN:
Round 1 in debates goes to Obama, poll says — OXFORD, Mississippi (CNN) — A national poll of people who watched the first presidential debate suggests that Barack Obama came out on top, but there was overwhelming agreement that both Obama and John McCain would be able to handle the job of president if elected.
Discussion:
Connecting.the.Dots
Greg Sargent / TPM Election Central:McCain Seems To Have Upper Hand, But No Real Game Changers
Discussion:
The Huffington Post
The Politico:
GOP concerned about Palin — A growing number of Republicans are expressing concern about Sarah Palin's uneven — and sometimes downright awkward — performances in her limited media appearances. — Conservative columnists Kathleen Parker, a former Palin supporter, says the vice presidential nominee should step aside.
RELATED:
Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
INITIAL REACTION — My take on this debate was that both candidates made their basic arguments clearly. They stuck to the points they're making on the campaign trail. Neither of these guys are powerful debaters but both held up well. I didn't see many real gaffes or mistakes.
RELATED:
Michelle Malkin:
Debate video: Obama can't remember the soldier's name on his bracelet — I mentioned this in my liveblog and wrap-up posts: Barack Obama's cringe-inducing “Me, too” moment with his troop bracelet -given to him by the mother of a soldier whose name he can't remember without having to look down and read it.
RELATED:
The New Republic:
They both lost tonight. We can go back and forth about whether McCain's anecdotes were more intimate or whether Obama's jabs were snappier. But beyond stylistic differences in the personalities they project from behind the podium (McCain's the weary parent, Obama's the sharp young know-it-all) …
Wall Street Journal:
Fixing the Paulson Plan — The American financial system is in deep trouble. Regulatory moves to guarantee money market funds, the conversion of Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs into bank holding companies, and the Treasury's asset purchase proposal have staved off a crisis for now.
Jonathan Martin / Jonathan Martin's Blogs:
As predicted, the “Sen. McCain is right” video — I said it would come before the stroke of midnight — it actually arrives before the debate is even over.
Paul Reiser / The Huffington Post:
Obama Underwhelms, McCain Patronizes — Well, for the first few minutes of the debate it was like watching a bad Dr. Phil show. “That was great — now I want you to turn around and say what you just said, but now say it to him. Let him hear you.” — It was well intentioned but goofy …
Senior Data Journalist, NY — 
Manager - Publishing Editorial, Manila — 
Oil Reporter, Singapore — 
Newsperson - State Govt. & Politics, CA — 
Business Reporter, SC — 
State Government Reporter, WA — 
Climate Crisis Columnist — 
Multimedia Journalist, CA — 
Community Engagement Mgr., DC — 
Senior California Politics Reporter, CA — 
Staff Writer - Business, NY — 
Team Editor - Opinion, ON — 
Assistant Correspondent, DC — 
Climate & Weather Reporter, MN — 
Senior Tech Editor, Remote US — 
Lead Business Reporter, TN — 
Managing Editor, WA — 
Private Credit Reporter, NY — 
Trending News Reporter, TX — 
City Correspondent, London — 
Legislative Reporter, CA — 
Reporter, PA — 
Visual Editor, Remote — 
Staff Writer, MI — 
Senior Political Reporter, DC — 
California Playbook Writer, CA — 
National Investigative Reporter, NY — 
Business & Gaming Reporter, NV — 
Coastal Climate Reporter, SC — 
Environment & Energy Reporter, CT — 
Coordinating Editor, OR — 
Editor, Remote US — 
Business Reporter, WA — 
Editor-in-Chief, AZ — 
