Liveblog! Obama vs. McCain And The Debate That Almost Wasn't

Welcome to our debate liveblog! We're figuring out how this Liveblogging software works. Please don't judge us just yet.

Update: Okay! We've figured it out. Welcome to this historic presidential debate between Barack Obama and John McCain, moderated by PBS' Jim Lerer and live-Twittered by pretty much everyone. We're getting back to our roots with some old-fashioned livebloggery, as we did for pretty much the entire primary season (only like 23 debates, but who's counting?). Your kindly hosts are myself, ETP editor Rachel Sklar, and Glynnis MacNicol, now of FishbowlNY. Joining us tonight we are very fortunate to have Wall Street whiz John Carney, formerly of Dealbreaker.com and now of Clusterstock.com, the just-launched new finance blog from Silicon Alley Insider. I've gotta be honest, we only invited him to goose our traffic. But anyway, he should be good for some smart commentary along the lines of "the fundamentals of our economy are strong." Looking forward! We will also have some super-special commenters piping up for good measure, plus pulling some smart stuff from our pals on Twitter, plus seeing what our pals at Gawker are coming up with. Also, we're going to be enjoying prosecco, pizza, and the finest imported Heineken while we do this, so expect for us to get smarter and smarter as the night wears on.

In the meantime, I can hear Chris Matthews's voice rising with excitement in the background, which can only mean one thing: The Debate is on! Come join us, my friends, this one should be good.

Comments

[CaptainStormfield]

Well I watched your live blog and I must say I was pretty underwhelmed. If your for Obama you dont have much faith in your candidate. Obama did well.. He got in lots of good and needed bits. War started in 2003, not 2007. Tax breaks to Oil companies. McCain is old old old.

[ThisIsNotThat]

I really enjoyed your live blogging last night! Much more entertaining than the TV. But go easy on Lehrer ... that's what everybody's been saying they wanted in a debate for the past three decades .. hands-off, let the candidates have at each other. Judge him on how the next three go by comparison.

New slogan: Rage Against the McChine.

[jkingg4s]

Whew! I'm glad to see I wasn't the only one who found McCain more of the same. He spend the whole time primarily on war, and the surge (more of the same). He told way too many stories of when he was there, heck, if that was the case and he was involved in so many aspects of different foreign issues and wasn't able to make a change why do we need him now? His choice of Palin as VP, just to make a counter political move to gain Hilary (women) voters without considering the candidate is just clear proof.

Concerned: I have noticed however, this election I don't see the voter registration personnel hitting all the local strip malls and stores as in past. I hope we all make it a point to get involved and vote as I would hate to have 4 more of even remotely the same>>>>>>>

Obama/Biden 08 "Clearly the only choice"

[wmatoslaw]

Hey will any of the news outlet due a FACTCHECK as to whether North Koreans are shorter than South Koreans.

What the hell is McCain smoking and talking about?

Big NIght for our next President and the emergence of a new 21st century political leadership.

GO BARACK!!!!!

[max]

OBAMA WINS !


MCCAIN IS WEAK

[tselfe]

For those who wanted Obama to be more aggressive towards McCain in this first debate, remember that right now alot of people (who still believe McCain's lies) are looking at whether or not McCain made any positive contributions to the "Bailout" negotiations (because he said he did).....w­hich one of these two men looked as if they might be able to produce positive results in THAT mess.....M­cCain? Don't think so....... Besides, this is only the 1st debate....­he's pacing himself, and doing a fantastic job while he's at it - he doesn't want to put the hardcore Republicans on the defensive right off the bat; he has to present "reality" to them gradually - it won't help anything if they won't even listen to what he says..... I think he was classy and confident enough to be respectful and polite, even though McCain was a nasty old prune....

[towny]

Keep in my mind this was McPalins strong ground and Obama held his own. I like that he would look over to JOHN when he spoke!

[whit4brains]

Olberman just came out with a poll of 500 uncommitted voters polled -

Obama won 40%
Draw 38%
McCain won 22%

[kathy001]

And the CNN Quick Vote:
Obama - 67%
McCain - 27%
Undecided - 6%

[kathy001]

CBS poll among undecided voters just in:
40% - Obama won
38% - Draw
22% - McCain won

[whit4brains]

I sure would like to see what they both were writing down as the other one was speaking..­.

Olbermann said from
500 uncommited voters polled -
Obama won 40%
Draw 38%
McCain won 22%

Yeah!

[kimhoulian]

I really wish Senator Obama would break this issue of talking to the enemy down to the american people to it lowest form.. If we don't talk to a Nations we don't like...how are we going to know what they are saying about us or plotting against us. Do people not understand if Iran are aiming to have WMD, we might have gotten the information about these secret labs by now,if we were talking to some of the other countries who we deem as evil. Just like with neighbors, the only way people find out what other are doing or saying is by the third party who refuse to keep the secret, especially if the third party feel it's in their interest to get something.

Second if Mccain is so interested in Nuclear power can we build them in AZ.

Third, can someone please ask Mccain if the tax credits for businesses were going to create jobs , then why are we seeing the unemployment rate increase.

This is what I was hoping Senator Obama had said during the debate

[whit4brains]

Kissinger just put out a statement that he didn't say a POTUS should sit down w/o preconditions and is on the side of his "friend" McCain...

[Brasco06]

Actually, Obama said several times that he wasn't saying the President should sit down w/o preconditions. He said, in general, the US should begin talks without preconditions, but people hear what they want to hear.

[whit4brains]

I looked in the eyes of John McCain and saw three letters - L I E...LOL!

That KGB joked was dumb!!!

[Steelrod]

Where is Palin?

[prunebush]

Obama needs to call McSame out on his new, clearly COACHED rhetorical device--and should have done so tonight. How many times did you clench your teeth until you heard them crunch when McSame said, "What Senator Obama doesn't seem to UNDERSTAND is..."

Clearly COACHED and revolting tactic!!!! Obama needs to laughingly use that same device right back in his McCain's face every time he's discussing a point of contention--or simply call McCain out on being so well-coached by his debate trainers that he uses that phrase every time. Either method would disarm McSame of this weapon which, arguably, might be effective on the dimwits among us..

And, Barack, it's OK to say that you AGREE on a particular point or that you see eye-to-eye on something, but NEVER EVER use these words again: "Senator McCain is right about..."

And hit harder next time.

[Diogenis]

YES!

[belikejeanvaljean]

I have seen Joe Biden on four channels so far since the debate, including on Fox. Not one Palin sighting! I hope this is mentioned in news reports tomorrow.