10.07.2008 9:34 pm
Have the debates really helped define the candidates’ positions?
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Debates have been a long-held tradition in politics. And we vary them between the stilted podium-anchored statements and tonight’s “town hall style” meetings.
The debate tonight sounded very much like the previous one to me, however. Sen. Obama worked very hard to paint Sen. McCain as a clone of President George Bush. McCain worked hard to describe Obama as a product of the Washington establishment — without the ability to reach across the aisle and promote change.
Do these debates do anything to help voters really understand the candidates’ views on the issues? Or do they confuse you more, as the candidates highlight the flaws they perceive in their opponent’s plans?
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Kurt is the director of social media for the Post-Dispatch, where he has worked since August 2002. He's been a journalist since 1982, covering municipal government, courts, education and two hurricanes as a reporter before becoming an editor. 
I’ve watched my last debate. I cannot stomach watching McCain for 90 minutes.
Boring rehash of the previous 2 debates
I didn’t learn anything new.
Same charges, same rebuttals
Close, with edge to Obama
Biggie - Obama looked presidential, just like in debate #1
Obama did very well — kept his composure while commenting on key issues, while we saw McCain pacing behind him, making snide remarks, and remarking little on the actual topics at hand. Obama clearly won.
Both candidates’ performance tonight clearly demonstrated why Barack Obama will be our next president. ‘Nuff said.
Obama was amazing. Made clear, succinct points. Even as a lifetime Republican, there is no real choice here. So long as voters aren’t blinded by the last ditch, month long fear mongering that the party will use, Obama will win in a landslide. Finally it seems like we’ll be back on the way to being respected throughout the world.
I am voting democrat for the first time since Prdsident Lyndon Johnson. John McCain will say anything and maybe do anything to be president. He scares me.
Bill I doubt you are a life long Republican
While giving you that Obama is a skillful orator, he is an empty suit.
This man has no track record execpt for the fact that he gave a great keynote address at the 2004 DNC.
He has been in the US Senate for, what four years? Minus of course the last two when he has not represented the state of Illiois because he was to busy running of President.
Lets not get caught up in retoric which Obama gives us. He has no record of accompishing anything of any merit. Voting present does not show where
you stand with the American people.
John Calhoun– See how many people agree with you on election day. This. election. is. over.
Shel
While the polls may showing that, I will not agree with anyone who thinks that an empty suit will be best suited to run this country only because he is a sweet speaker and has no record.
Shel what is unfortunate about this whole thing is he will get credit for turning around an economy that has only one way to go but up.
FDR got credit after Hoover, Kennedy got credit for Eisenhower, Reagan got credit for Carter, Clinton got credit for Bush, W got credit for Clinton and the way it seems right now is Obama gets credit for W/
This was a good debate for both candidates, but it needed to be a game-changer for McCain - Obama did every bit as well as he did in his preferred format, the “town hall meeting.”
Both looked moderately Presidential, but the end was awkward. Was I the only one who thought it was a tad amusing when both candidates walked in front of - and blocked - the camera on Tom Brokaw (and also his TelePompTer)? SNL needs to do something with that.