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.

Newman's Own Foundation Celebrates the Life and Legacy of Paul Newman  —  Remembering the life and legacy of Paul Newman, Newman's Own Foundation has issued a statement.  The statement, from Vice-Chairman Robert Forrester, follows:  —  “Paul Newman's craft was acting.  His passion was racing.

SO ANGRY  —  McCain's unwillingness to make eye contact with Obama through the debate seems to be getting picked up by a lot of observers.  Here's an interesting exchange on the subject between Chris Matthews and the Post's Eugene Robinson ...  Here's one comment we got from TPM Reader EO ...

“Horses**t”: Correction  —  I've removed the original post of a little time ago because after listening to the clip about two dozen times, what sounded like McCain saying “horses**t” actually comes through as having a hard “c” at the front of it.  My husband insists that McCain said “Course not.”

RUNNING MATES AS SURROGATES.... After a debate, campaigns generally want high-profile figures telling the media how great their candidate did.  And as a rule, it's hard to top the running mates as high-profile figures.  —  It was pretty interesting, then, that the Obama campaign was anxious …

How McCain Stirred a Simmering Pot  —  When Sen. John McCain made his way to the Capitol office of House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) just past noon on Thursday, he intended to “just touch gloves” with House Republican leaders, according to one congressional aide …

Gallup Daily: Obama Holds 5-Point Lead  —  Momentum in his favor going into debate  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Barack Obama leads John McCain, 49% to 44%, when registered voters are asked who they would vote for if the election were held today, according to the latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking update.

A Genuine and Immediate Crisis  —  What Congress has to do now.  —  I've received phone calls in the last hour from two economists I respect, one of them Larry Lindsey, the other in a position where he'd prefer not to be named.  Both have government experience, neither is alarmist by nature, and they say this:

The SNL Skit & Focus Groups  —  It's hard to guess what, exactly, the SNL skit will look like.  I think the press is congealing around the (erroneous) idea that Obama won precisely because that's what the focus groups seem to be saying, or at least what the focus groups are saying allows …

A Crisis Primer  —  David Harsanyi, writing for the Denver Post: … Harsanyi goes on to embed the “Burning down the House” video (on my suggestion: I have incredible pull with the mainstream press, provided I don't charge for my services), which I believe everyone should watch …

Video: Obama's Flip-Flop On Missile Defense  —  From the first Presidential Debate in Oxford, Mississippi last night, Barack Obama changes direction on missile defense quicker than an “unproven” defensive interceptor.  —  But while he flipped in the right direction, is this Change You Can Believe In?