Watching the debate, it was clear that there were no knockout blows. There were no lines, phrases or gestures that will make there way into future trainings on how to or how not to political debate.  Both candidates held their own. And in the debate about foreign policy, that everyone agrees should clearly advantage John McCain, a tie really means a McCain loss. 

I think the debates offered voters a clear choice between style as well as substance- a choice that favors Obama.   After the debates, you have to ask yourself:

• Would you rather vote for someone who laid out serious and substantive principles about how to deal with the financial crisis, or a candidate who only talked about opposition to government earmarks as the panacea of economic reform?
• Do you want to vote for a candidate who is comfortable with fighting preventive wars, but not talking directly to our adversaries or a candidate who believes military action should be the last resort, not the first?  
• Would you rather vote for a grumpy condescending  grandfather who's favorite line is "Obama just doesn't understand" or his precocious grandson who can acknowledge that sometimes "John, is right" about the problem but has often been misguided about the solutions?

This is the choice that was made clear during the debates tonight.

For all of John McCain's experience, which came through nicely during the 90 minutes, he did not make Obama look like a naive Bambi or a risky choice.  Obama actually came off looking calm and presidential, no doubt his main goal for the night. I imagine the McCain camp was disappointed with the debate and their inability to change the game that is slipping back in favor of Obama.  So be on the look out for the next stunt, gimmick or lie. That might be all they have left.