LiveBlog: The Debate

THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE, a LiveBlog

7:15 pm. So far, I've got this debate as a pretty even draw.

7:13 pm. Obama gets a follow-up, but McCain also wants a follow-up. Hasn't he got his shots in after the bell all debate long? It seems to me that it has been that way. And there he goes, cutting off Obama during his answer.

7:06 pm. Obama gives a firm answer on the so-called "Obama doctrine." McCain?

7:02 pm. It's going to be really interesting to see how the public responds to this new-look attack dog known as John McCain. I have a feeling it will do well within his own party, but how are independents are going to feel? I have to think they won't take kindly to his attack politics.

6:59 pm. Now he crossed that line. As soon as Brokaw moves on, McCain stands up and says, "Did we hear the size of the fine?" McCain is clearly overstepping the rules of the debate, and Obama doesn't have a chance to respond. I'm stunned to see him so much on the offensive like this.

6:50 pm. OK, now it's getting over the top. McCain referred to Obama as "that one." That almost crosses the line. McCain looked more like a dog salivating over meat than a Presidential candidate disagreeing with his opponent.

6:44 pm. I get the feeling the McCain campaign realized it was behind and had to change its debate strategy. He's still firing at Obama, and I don't know if he's necessarily winning, but he's certainly holding his own. It's much more of a debate than the first one.

6:40 pm. Back comes Obama. "The straight talk express lost a wheel right there." Obama seems legitimately disturbed by McCain's continued shots at him, because he hasn't really had a chance to defend himself. He spelled out his tax plan in plain English, and I think you're going to see a different Obama in the second half of this debate.

6:37 pm. And another shot fired by McCain, comparing Obama's tax plans to jello. He continues to go on the offensive. I don't know what woke him up from the last debate, but he has ripped into Obama's plans. Again, Obama continues to give solid answers to the question, but McCain is going above and beyond.

6:29 pm. Tom Brokaw with some comic relief. Now, back to the debate.

6:28 pm. A big step from Obama, invoking JFK and his call to go to the moon. It depends on who you talk to, but that will either score big points or make the purists shudder. So far, I'm calling this a dead heat.

6:22 pm. McCain is continuing to take it to Obama. How deep did he (and his staffers) have to dig to find out about Obama's desire for an overheard projector at a planetarium? Nonetheless, no holds barred from the Republican candidate. He took an early lead, if you like attack dog politics. If not, I'd say it's pretty even up to this point.

6:19 pm. Take that...everyone. What a sharp question from the audience. "How can we trust either of you with our money when both parties got us into this mess?" Ouch.

6:17 pm. The Empire, er, uh, Obama strikes back. He directly addressed the question, spelling out in lay terms exactly what the bailout/rescue bill will do. I think that will score points with the American public. And about those "cronies?" Nope - it was McCain's camp that lobbied in favor of Fannie and Freddie.

6:14 pm. McCain on the attack. "Senator Obama and his cronies." Cronies? Harsh words for John. He is not showing the same restraint from the first debate, and clearly his game plan was to take the lead from the get go and make Obama play catch-up.

6:10 pm. Interesting question from Tom Brokaw - who would you pick to be the next Treasury Secretary? Both candidates seemed stumped by that one, but Obama outlines a strong plan of how to direct that economic policy. I know I can sleep safely tonight, though, knowing that Brokaw will not be that next Secretary.

6:09 pm. McCain storms ahead, or so it seems. He gave a firm, resolute answer, and seemed almost angry that anyone else could say their plan is better.

6:06 pm. Just in case you were wondering, a junket is " a pleasure excursion, as a picnic or outing." (Dictionary.com definition) But Obama doesn't like junkets. Presumably, of course, he was referring to a pleasure excursion and not "a sweet, custardlike food of flavored milk curdled with rennet." (Dictionary.com) Because everyone likes those, and it would hurt Obama to say he hates those kinds of junkets.