CBS Poll: Uncommitted Voters Say Obama Won Debate  —  UPDATED CBS News and Knowledge Networks have, once again, conducted a nationally representative poll of uncommitted voters to get their immediate reaction to tonight's presidential debate.  —  And this new poll has good news for the Democratic ticket …

Transcript of second McCain, Obama debate  —  NASHVILLE, Tennessee (CNN) — Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama debated in Nashville, Tennessee, on Tuesday night.  NBC's Tom Brokaw moderated the debate.  Here is a transcript of that debate.  —  Brokaw: Good evening from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.

Debate: Reaction  —  I thought Obama won this one — he was more fluid and fluent and confident, and McCain sounded tired to me.  That said, I didn't think it was a blowout.  But it didn't need to be.  McCain is the one who needs to shake up the race; Obama just needs to solidify is support.

[I doubt that] Obama wore an earpiece that was clearly visible on HDTV.  —  (Enlarge.)  —  ADDED: Scrolling around and looking in different frames, I don't see it.  I think this picture creates an illusion of a clear plastic earpiece, but I can't see it in other frames.

The Palins' un-American activities  —  Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and her husband, Todd, at a rally in Vienna, Ohio, on Sept. 16, 2008.  —  “My government is my worst enemy.  I'm going to fight them with any means at hand.”  —  This was former revolutionary terrorist Bill Ayers back in his old Weather Underground days, right?

Downturn in Decibels, Too  —  Neither candidate was selling morning in America.  At times it seemed more like a competition to see who could paint the gloaming in the least unsettling hues.  —  Tuesday night's presidential debate was remarkable for the dourness of its mood …

GOP likes ‘that one’ too  —  A Republican official emails, on background:

Obama spokesman: Yes, he continued to work with Ayers after he found out about his past  —  Simple question from a surprisingly dogged Mark Halperin: Does Obama consider it appropriate to associate professionally with an unrepentant terrorist or not?  No answer from Gibbs …

“That One”  —  The moment the contempt spilled over:

SECRET SERVICE LOOKING INTO POTENTIAL THREAT AGAINST OBAMA  —  The Secret Service is following up on media reports today that someone in the crowd at a McCain/Palin event suggested killing Barack Obama, according to Secret Service spokesman Malcolm Wiley.  The shout of “kill him” …

Chris Matthews Post-Debate Drooling  —  This is not a parody: … Update: Olbermann keeps it classy: “McCain, and I'm trying to say this as nicely as possible, didn't look like a well man wandering around on that stage tonight.”

That One?!  —  They say that Senator McCain's strong suit is the town hall debate.  If this was, in fact, Senator McCain's strength, he might as well go home.  Sorry... homes.  —  While not as smirky as the first debate, Senator McCain was jittery, reptilian (the darting tongue), scattered and overall just plain creepy.

Cindy McCain makes appearance at Children's Hospital  —  Cindy McCain said today that she expects her husband to clear the record at tonight's debate and let America know where he truly stands.  —  McCain, who stopped to visit a half-dozen children at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital …

Signing Off  —  This reader out-Andies Andy: … Steady on.  This next month is going to be a long month.  Lots of things will happen.  But McCain has to make some of them happen.  His charge that Obama doesn't know the difference between “strategy” and “tactics” could equally well be leveled at his own campaign.

Live Blogging: Third Half Hour  —  10:29: Here's a YouTube of “That One.”  —  10:24: McCain uses question about whether US would defend Israel military if Iran attacks to bring up “without preconditions” vow, but McCain does not answer question...neither does Obama...smart of them both not to answer this question.

Let's Face It, the Only Candidate This Year Who Has What It Takes to be President Is...  Because she's the only one who is young enough and idealistic enough and man enough for the job.

THE “HANDSHAKE” THAT WASN'T  —  You can see our initial comments on this below.  And here's the video — make your own judgments ...  Late Update: A few readers say the two shook hands right after the conclusion of the debate, at that moment where Brokaw told them they were in the way of his teleprompter.

Luntz's Focus Group  —  This is purely a methodological question.  If the reporting on blacks said they were torn between the candidates I wouldn't be asking this question.  But his focus group is allegedly a collection of “swing voters” from Virginia.  And it appears there are a relatively large number of blacks in the focus group.