It's Our City is a project that uses TV, Radio and Web
to promote civic engagement in the Philadelphia region.WHO WON THE DEBATE?
Friday, September 26th, 2008 at 8:50 pm - by Matt Campbell. Filed under: Politics.
The Debate is over. What did you think? From the people we were following on Twitter, it seems like many people were annoyed by John McCain’s constant attacks and his repeated attempts to talk over Barack Obama alot.
I think McCain was the strategic winner, because he badly miscalculated earlier in the week by suspending his campaign. It came off as a stunt to make himself appear like a national leader on the economic crisis. Well, at this hour, there is no agreement on a bailout plan and McCain found time to get his share of the 90 mins. He did better than expect, so the debate will shift the media’s attention away from the McCain “time out and people will spend the next few days dissecting various claims made tonight.
So I’ll call this one for McCain and predict he’ll get a 2% boost in the national polls. If you don’t agree, feel free to leave a comment.
(technical note: most of the comments below were posted by Alan Tu, but represent the views of various Twitter postings I saw from members that It’s Our City is following)
September 26th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Testing 123, Testing 123. Check, Check, Check, (tapping sound)
September 26th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
I’m choosing to watch tonight’s debate on TV12. But that’s not a requirement. Just a couple of minutes to go.
September 26th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
I’m here!
September 26th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Great now it’s a party
September 26th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Jim Lehrer ask What will you give up if the financial bailout plan is passed?
Obama totally dodged this question, he just went off on all the things he’d love. he says eliminate program that don’t work. wow that’s specific.
September 26th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
And McCain said “Cut Spending.” Also really specific.
September 26th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Did McCain say he would freeze spending on nearly everything but defense? that doesn’t sound very well thought out
September 26th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Andrea you’re right. he talks about cutting spending, but hasn’t really said anything specific.
September 26th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Hey, my TV keeps getting digital static. Is it just me?
September 26th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Topic switches from Economy to Defense
September 26th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Twitter reply
avery33 @itsourcity Did Obama just say, “orgy of spending?”
September 26th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Mccain goes after Obama saying Obama didn’t think the surge would work and didn’t support it
September 26th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Obama concedes that the Surge worked. but says it was needed because we got involved in a ill concieved war
September 26th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Isn’t bush already ordering strikes inside Pakistan? I think the US and Pakistan exchanged gunfire this week.
September 26th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Twitter reply
jefflouella Can’t wait to check out FactCheck.org after this. Too much info. Too much he said she said.
September 26th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Twitter reply
iPhillyChitChat I like Obama’s bracelet. I wish I was watching the debate with Sarah Palin in her hotel room
September 26th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Twitter reply
saratara I’ve got a bracelet too
September 26th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Twitter reply
betty822 Are we supposed to trust the integrity & judgment of a man who left his disfigured wife for a hot rich piece of ass? Just saying
September 26th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Twitter comment
jhbae Obama doesn’t get it that you do not meet foreign heads of enemy states as equals when you are the President of the U.S
September 26th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Twitter comment
sayitwithecards I think Obama is doing Ok? He seems to be coming back with the answers on spot! Glad he explained the *precondition* thing!
September 26th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Twitter comment
vcamiolo It seems that McCain always smiles when he’s losing a point in the debate.
September 26th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Twitter comment
aaronmonroe Getting dizzy from all the “spinning” McCain is doing to Obama’s policies.
September 26th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Twitter comment
lwcavallucci I hate how McCain is trying to scare Jews with fear mongering of Iran wanting to wipe Israel off the map. Doesn’t work for me!
September 26th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Twitter comment
pinknebulous I love McCain.
September 26th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
I think John McCain is doing better than most people expected. I know that defense is supposed to be his strong point but with all the praise of Obama’s sharp speaking ability I thought it would be a little more lopsided.
September 26th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Twitter comment
jamesclaiborne where hasn’t mccain been?? every subject has a trip associated… I’ve been there once… lol
September 26th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Twitter comment
JDobs I wonder if McCain dyes his eyebrows, or maybe shades them with a pencil a bit.
September 26th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Twitter comment
mstrlocke it just hit me that on the whole, this is probably the most intelligent presidential debate in the past 8 years.
September 26th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Twitter comment
etu McCain has been everywhere. Who pays for that? earmarks
September 26th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Twitter comment
ostermayer i want to see a breakdown on how long each candidate spoke. i predict that mccain spoke much much longer with all these stories
September 26th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Twitter comment
originalstatia McCain must really be big on recycling, because he’s just recycled the same bullshit the entire debate.
September 26th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
My TV keeps getting digital hiccups. Stop it.
September 26th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Twitter comment
sayitwithecards McCain says *we are safer now!* What world is he living in? Go Obama… we ARE not respected anymore!
September 26th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Twitter comment
katintherat +3 Obama for bringing up the need to restore our image in the world
September 26th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Twitter comment
AmyZQuinn Every time McCain uses the “just doesn’t understand” line it makes him sound OLD.
September 26th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Twitter comment
polexa McCain is better at playing the debate game. Just say ur opponent doesn’t understand & talk over him all the time.
September 26th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Twitter comment
OroroDC Hee hee. McCain can’t pronounce names of world leaders
September 26th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Twitter comment
rbender Obama needs to keep reminding everyone that invading Iraq was a mistake and that McCain was in favor of it.
September 26th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Twitter comment
lwcavallucci How can someone stuck in the last century bring us forward in this century?
September 26th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Great job with the Twitter comments. Schieffer is giving his post debate analysis on CBS. I agree with his assessment of “no serious gaffes” and that no one really landed any haymakers. I suspect that these debates will probably leave the undecideds just as undecided as they were before.
September 26th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
I’m surprised Barack Obama didn’t take one jab at McCain for suspending his campaign and then flip flopping on his statement that he would not continue till there was a bailout plan. Well, there’s still no bailout, and McCain’s campaign was in full swing tonight.
September 26th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Twitter comment
R71 Good debate tonight. Not sure why I watch coverage afterwards. Pundits bore me.
September 26th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Twitter comment
Sadandbeautiful OK. I’m done with this political shit for tonight. I’m exhausted!
September 26th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Twitter comment
avery33 @itsourcity just checked yer site, Obama supporters sound hostile. I’m still undecided, but the Obamarama & anger is surprising
September 26th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Twitter comment
OroroDC Just say it Barak, “John, you’re LYING!!”
September 26th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Twitter comment
two_headed_boy Wow, McCain was really condescending tonight. “You don’t understand” is a weak refrain, especially when used for EVERY rebuttal
September 26th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
I wonder if these debates change anyone’s minds, or if they only work to reassure those who’ve already settled upon their man that he isn’t too scary to be our president. Has anyone who was on the fence felt any tugs in either direction?
I tend to perceive Obama as more straight-talking than McCain, at least since the presidential campaign started. So that’s what I came away from the debate with, too. Meanwhile, I feel McCain has bought into the fear-mongering, so every time he speaks I’m stressed out.
September 26th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
The Associated Press has been hard at work tonight. They had a team fact checking various statements heard during the debate. The article adds clarification to a number of statements made. http://tinyurl.com/3nhkgq
September 26th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
Twitter comment
rbender Thank god there were no questions about patriotism or flag pins
September 26th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Twitter comment
lwcavallucci @nprpolitics Obama presented a much better argument. Won unequivocally.
September 26th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
Twitter comment
OroroDC I would say that Obama won, mostly because he didn’t have to lie and make facts. And, he didn’t have to rely on the cruch of POW status
September 26th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Personally i think it was a draw, Mccain was struggling in the beginning with the economy but he had a strong opinion on Forgien policy
the inverse happened with Obama, he knew what was wrong with the Economy and knew one way to fix it
on the economy issue Mccain said that he knew just bailing out wall street isn’t the end but he didn’t know where to go from there, but the point is you have to anticipate what’s going to happen next
on the opposite Obama knew what needed to be done with the bailout, but beyond that he doesn’t have a plan, who’s to say that this will end well?
September 26th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
also, Tweeter is skewed with pro-obama, they lie instead of Obama, so obama does not have to. McCain didn’t lie, he’s just old
September 26th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Alan, it’s your type of comments that give democrats a bad name. Your obvious bias gives you absolutely no credit in anything you say.
Obama got smoked on foreign policy. Neither did great on the financial crisis. Obama did not even know the difference between meeting a foreign leader of an enemy state and engaging in talks in lower levels. Even if he did he did a poor job of demonstrating that he knew what McCain was attacking him on. His explanation on pre-condition was a NON-EXPLANATION.
McCain was clear and concise, repeating his points to hammer Obama on his foreign policy positions. Obama needs to do a better job in the next debate.
I expected Obama to crush McCain in the debates. I’m very surprised at how well McCain came across, even if some of his facts were incorrect. But then again both sides were incorrect on their points.
I thoroughly enjoyed the debate in the classical format, without either side knowing questions nor approving them. Jim Lehrer is always refreshing. I cannot wait for the next debate on Thursday.
September 26th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Twitter comment
Katchin05 @ItsOurCity Obama. Hands down, in my opinion
September 27th, 2008 at 12:00 am
almost immediately on the Mccain site there’s a commercial about the first debate saying that Obama agreed with Mccain, now while this isn’t slander, Mccain’s trying to win votes, this will hurt him in the swing people who watched the debate, but hopefully (what he thinks) win more of the voters who didn’t see any elections