Substance: Crisply specific on his economic platform, and personal and expository on the importance to regular Americans of the financial bailout. The Democratic nominee was manifestly familiar with the intricacies of the Federal Government, including the budget. But he still is not touting any signature policies in a manner that would burn them into the national consciousness or clarify his game plan once in office.
Grade: B+
Style: Neither nervous nor tentative in speech or manner. He was comfortable walking the stage and interacting with the questioners, although, as always, led with his head and not his heart. Less grim than in the first debate, he was still perhaps too antiseptic for some tastes, without generating passion or big moments.
Grade: B+
Offense: For most of the evening, he firmly jabbed at McCain on some of his recent statements, but without much impact. He hit harder by citing some of McCain's foreign policy miscues, including his famous singing of "Bomb, Bomb Iran"—drawing a strained, rattled reply from his rival. Rigorously familiar with McCain's policy proposals and past statements, particularly on health care, he used that arsenal in his arguments. Seeded answers with mentions of "George Bush" whenever he could, which his campaign considers an automatic, all-purpose trump card.
Grade: B+
Defense: Unruffled when McCain went after him, smiling softly while he waited to respond. And respond he did — following his clear rule to answer every charge McCain leveled at him (even when debate rules forbade a response). When faced with any attack, he kept to a pattern: showed little anger, spent minimal time batting away charges, clarified his position and then went on the offense or talked positively about his own views.
Grade: B+
Overall: Played it typically cautious and safe and thus avoided major blunders, knowing if he commits no errors for the next 30 days, he will be the next President of the United States. The Illinois Senator used a coolly determined offense to keep McCain from building up a full head of steam when on the attack. Comfortably indicated a thorough grasp of his policies and agenda. It was not a dominating performance but a good enough one. Two debates down and one to go for the prohibitive favorite.
Substance: Delved only occasionally into specifics when describing his agenda, focusing on spending and tax cuts. He had a bit of trouble elucidating his health-care and energy policies and did little to close the gap with Obama on whom voters trust to deal with the economy.
Grade: B-
Style: Clearly more confident talking to voters in his cherished town-hall format than standing behind a podium. Authentically displayed feel-your-pain concern over the economy, in a smoother manner than usual. But while he held the audience's attention with his answers and theatrics, he distractingly and conspicuously scribbled notes when Obama had the floor. His errant reference to Obama as "that one" probably jarred some viewers. Bottom line: with his rival in the lead, the Republican nominee was forced into aggression and antagonism but often flirted with the desperate and negative.
Grade: B
Offense: Took some risks by hitting Obama for being liberal and for a range of other alleged offenses, but kept his tone appropriate for the format and avoided purely personal attacks. Occasionally stumbling over some of his sharper rehearsed lines, he muted their effectiveness. Didn't once fluster Obama, though he did lay down the foundation he needs to try to mount a comeback by sowing doubts about the Democrat. Pulled off his primary task more deftly than even his aides could have hoped.
Grade: B+
Defense: Mostly ignored Obama's swipes, maintained his composure and rarely looked annoyed. Still, though he kept his focus cleanly on the issues, he oddly made little attempt to separate himself from President Bush when Obama linked the two. Did not engage Obama on a point-by-point rebuttal of detailed accusations.
Grade: B
Overall: As promised, he was comfortable in a town-hall environment, directing his attention to the individual questioner and the crowd. The Arizona Senator was by turns aggressive, sensitive, conservative and conversational. Successfully presented a negative case against Obama with an upbeat, optimistic smile — but was unable to paint a truly damning portrait of an Obama presidency, especially on the economy. He exhibited a few physical and verbal tics that made him look his age, including a heavy reliance on his "my friends" crutch, and seemed nervously well aware of the high stakes. Without a solid win, he did not make up as much ground as he needed to, but lives to fight on.
Overall grade: B(Click here to see the 10 Memorable Debate Moments.)
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