Barack please keep your cool. Expect the expected and keep your focus on the issues. Don't let anyone big you down.

I can see the MSM predicting Obama won. Did you know most of the debate voting comes from oversees like the middle east, Indonesia and Kenya. BTW, where is the discussion of Jesse Jackson's outburst. The MSM is so quiet. Shame on you....

Did you see Bob Schieffers network projecting a 14 point lead for Obama with suggestions that McCain is negative and Palin is a risk. Release the polls before the debate. How come Zogby is just 4 points. Cook the numbers. Shame on you

Time to "Spread the Wealth" from the hard working middle class to the 40 % who pay no taxes. USSA ( United Socialist States of America)

You mean the, Socialist Republic of Corporate America. How about if we just repeal the income tax act and take the money away from Congress, that's where the problem is. Congress can tax the States just enough to run the Country. That will fix all the problems.

Ex Republican

Its not surprising Jesse says those things, hes jealous of Obama, and is trying to undermine him. Jesse isnt half the man barack is. Hes tryin to cut of his you-know-whats like he said. Jesse is spiteful and mean.

Nah we are gonna take it from the corporate big wigs who are sitting on their @sses raking in the moolah, all for nothing. They are the ones who have never known hard work. They are billionaires and the poor are homeless. Take it from them and spread it around. Eat the rich! Legally or otherwise they will give it up. In France they just marched up to their front doors and took it all, maybe they would prefer that...

vs

I agree with your comments.....
The media is for Hussein Obama....
They cook the numbers........
All my family members and friends
we will vote McCAIN/PALIN ticket.

JJ - "my friend" .. you are the biggest loser I have ever seen post!! Congrats! Do you work for a poor person idiot?

auspicios start to this conversation...take youre 30 minute break all you McCain volunteers, the debate wont start until you come back....The pre-spin is amazing....one more time....ITS NOT WORKING

vs: "BTW, where is the discussion of Jesse Jackson's outburst. "

If the media reported every JJ outburst, there wouldn't be time for commercials. He hardly speaks for Obama - last statement from him I heard he wanted to 'cut his (testicles) off.' Yeah, that's a guy who speaks for Obama.

JJ is just another distraction. Focus on what Barrack says and you might learn, you might hear a plan, you might become, god forbid, hopeful. How unAmerican.

vs, first of all Jesse Jackson says he didn't say that. Second of all, Jesse Jackson doesn't speak for Barack Obama. He's not an advisor, not part of the campaign and means nothing to Barack's policies. I guess because he's Black you equate him to Obama. Also, you talking about 40% who don't pay taxes then you must be talking about corporations.

I'm trying to hook up early. Does abcnews really need to provide advertising links to all the sleezy websites for high school contacts, veterans housing loans and all the other garbage side bars that the uninformed, untrained, National Enquirer victims believe are real because it is in a magazine or on the Internet? Or on ABCnews? Sources they trust? Not all US citizens are cynical enough to understand that 90% in mags, tv and net are junk.

The media said that Mr. McCain is behind, but when you guys said something different. When you guys do not critiocize him or Mr. Palin. But you look the other side about Mr. Obama and his connection with Pastor Jeremia Wright, and Mr. Ayers. The Media can sell you for ratings, and they rather prefer to show people such us Paris Hilton, Britney Spears and 50 cents, right. Talking about double standars, If the Liberals do not win the election this year, you guys better get another hobby and jobs. You, Liberals and the Media already have the economic crisis, housing crisis, the gas crisis to point your fingers as usual. Mr. McCain, I hope you could read this. I just want you to be yourself, a man of values and principals as you did in Hanoi Hilton.

You right wing nuts act as though the poor have one iota of power in this country. You are being lead by the nose by right wing conservatives. Listening to swiftboat tactics is what got us Bushed the last 8 years and you are falling for it again. Shame on you!

Paalalala - It's how they make money.....

Please check out the National Republican Black Association www.nbra.info or read anything written by Dr. Thomas Sowell www.tsowell.com. There are those of us in the black community who are not voting for Obama. It would be nice if someone actually acknowledged that.

Ok, you have been acknowledged. You and the rest of the 4% of the Black community.

McCain may not last 4 years. Then we have Sarah Palin. You don't like Ms Clinton but airhead Palin is acceptible? Mr Obama is wildly popular with the entire world. Face it, we are not alone. I was in England when some people voted for Dubya. All they could say was "What were you thinking?" Some of those isolated in white bread WASP communities are not aware that they are not the world.

This is a response to Chipo1965 ... Do you think if more people in the black community knew that we existed then perhaps it would be more than 4%????

crash and burn McCain right out the gate on the plumber issue

Response to KenB, Obama is not telling me anything that I have not heard before...

Ronnie - no I don't, i give them credit for making their own decision

Ronnie, as an entrepreneur and my wife being one in her own right haven't heard anything we haven't heard before from Obama and we like what we've heard.

Tax cuts, my a##. Obama is going to eliminate the Bush tax cuts which will raise everyone's taxes. Than he will raise the taxes on American business which will kill the golden goose of American business that lays the eggs of all the jobs and zero out everyone's 401Ks.

How can we afford 4-8 more years of the Republican Party. Our domestic situation was much better during the Clinton years, our economy is suffering because of the "Bush domestic policy" which was ignore anything at home and be aggressive abroad so they could rape the American people to line their pockets. Thank God we can see the end of the "Bush Era!"

debate your 401K crashed and burned in the UK on a executive junket duck shoot.

Trickle down poverty... SAY IT McCain!

trickle up poverty.

McCain we've heard this story about the wolf making his way to granny's bed, We don't believe you. You can take off the bonnet.

"I am not President Bush. If you wanted to run against President Bush, you should have run four years ago."
Yeah!

Obama’s Simple Plan to Destroy America: (1) Kill the goose of American Business that lays the golden egg of jobs and higher 401 K growth via higher taxes (2) Kill any incentive of American Buiness earning less than $250,000 to create to jobs and make more money for fear of their taxes going up. (3) Encourage people earning less than $40,000 to stay poor less they loose all those free tax rebates Obama is promising. (4) Once American Business gets taxed to the hilt and goes out of business there will be zero taxes to pay for all the free health care, college education etc etc. government programs Obama is promising and we will all be standing in government soup lines. (5) Ayers will have acheived his goal and has destroyed America via his good buddy Obama.

McCain is delusional...very unfortunate. He still did not address the comments at his rallies...Obama didn't go for the okie doke and pushed the debate forward

What can either party contribute to the backbone of this country? The backbone has always been the small business owner, we contribute more to this country than any other group of people. Who is going to tackle the problem of health care, encourage growth with small business and let us move on and provide our own contribution to the American economy by providing more jobs, and give anyone the chance to work and move off of the unemployment line.

This is unreal. I was independent till 10 minutes ago. I feel like I'm listening to my sociology profs from the 1970's. What a disaster. McCain is the only candidate who puts his country first.

Bush is not McCain. Get your history straight, before you go off the deep end and blast someone because of party.

Have any of you asked your Small Owner Boss what he thinks of this insane notion that a 250,000 income for a small business being taxed will not effect their jobs? Come on. Do you want to have to go for unemployment when your boss has to cut jobs so he can afford his taxes?

Americans need to stop being impressed by smooth and cool

By the way, I have a PhD., so I'm not some "uninformed" voter.
RMW

Sorry, Steve.
You were not independent until 10 minutes ago. Really?
McCain is saying whatever he can say to get your vote.
Tell me you think Palin is qualified to be President and I'll start wondering what your PhD is in!!

...in order to form a more perfect union...indeed, in order...we continue to work on getting this right,change is key, so we continue to invest in ourselves and in as much invest in this great nation...it is imperative that we make choices to best represent our goals, our ambitions, our nation...my personal choice here is clear and however the end result of this election I will stay focused on the best representation that will work to continue to create a more perfect union. Obama/Biden

obama has no experience whatsoever, how can he expect to run the country? maybe his terrorist friends could help

I propose a game of scrabble between the two candidates before November.

no Haters plz,this is a contest,the best candidate wins,and God bless him,God bless America

Funny,if you look at how we're listed, our names appear "AFTER" our comment.... RMW is not steve.
Also, I taught English in College, and I said I WAS an independent... read before you knee-jerk response.

If you think Biden would be a great president, then I guess you haven't listened to what amounts to senior moments.

Sure, she's young, but,she's been an adminstrator....

Just setting your reading of my message straight.
RMW

Obama is trying to run a debate while McCain is constantly attacking Obama- obviously McCain is up to old politics as usual. Obama is best for president and tonight only confirms how I felt.

god bless Mccain!! he truly is an american!!

Let it be known that Obama has a sense of humor and I LOVE IT, as a matter of fact I know that will be the buzz around my office....:)

McCain needs to wake up! He's too old anyways. Get out of the 1930's.... It's time for new ideas and young blood - go obama!

any presidential candidate that refers to anything as "cockamamie" during a debate, is definitely not someone i want running my country.....

Don't trust obama!!

I think Mccain is comming off as a smug ass! Yes, there is many things none of the presidents knew before going in office! Mccain thinks he knows everything, guess he knows the good ole boys better then anyone else? Obama is somewhat perturbed by Mccains comments, look who the one in control is, I want that person to help us get out of this mess were all in!

Mcain is anger and out of control!!!!

I just love how everytime McCain makes a good point about Obama he smiles and laughs it off! I hope he knows most people can see right through him, that the comments McCain is making about his record are truthful and laughing it off will not make the viewers forget the issues. Maybe Obama has a little more experience he will understand this is not Presidential behavior for a national debate.

It is obvious that McCain is trying to get sympothy for his losing numbers. Come on McCain-quit whining! Put on your big boy pants and realize you don't have what America wants. Obamma is doing a great job of keeping focused and staying on target to answer the questions. McCain is coming across as very desperate. Not good!

Mcain doesn't care about working Americans.

I am voting for the person who will represent the USA in world theater.
As a registered republican....my Oscar this year will be cast for Obama/Biden.

How do you trust a JUNIOR senator with half of his time as senator not even in office but on the campaign trail to run the country? The principal of my kids elementary school has more experience than Obama!

Obama is winning. McCain is loosing his cool and comes off sometimes as an angry old man. Notice the multiple eye blinking. What about the word cockamaney? Is that a word.

Thank you recognizing that RMW is not Steve. We should just enjoy the ability that we still have the "Right" to voice our opinions. May the best person for this country prevail.

go mccain!! why would anyone vote present?? either one is for something or not..present is not an option

Have you seen the idiot facial expressions McCain makes when Obamma tells the truth about something that McCaim doesn't like? His little smirk is getting on my nerves too! What a total loser!!!

I am a small business owner who employs 29 people and if Obama gets into office I will most definitely have to lay people off. People are so caught up in the Republican/Democrat issue that they really overlook what each candidate is saying. Yes, Bush did a bad job but that does not mean McCain will be a carbon copy, the Obama campaign has done a very effective job trying to get the American people thinking this is the case. Take a real look at the issues and EXPERIENCE of each of the candidates.

Mcain loves war give him the power and he'll give us WWIII. Bush tried to say fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame you fool me again shame on Mcain. Wake up America!

It's a done deal! Obama, y'all!!!

McCain- try to stop twitching and try to hold your composure for once... i can't imagine how you would deal with these issues if you were really faced with them!!!! YOU ARE PATHETIC!

McCain, your Attack dog, Palin does not make any attempt to drive down her crowds cometimes violent and over the top rheotoric. In fact she instigates it. That's your running mate. You calm down the rhetoric in your crowd and she fires up the riotous rhetoric when she speaks. Sounds like good cop bad cop to me.

McCain, your Attack dog, Palin does not make any attempt to drive down her crowds cometimes violent and over the top rheotoric. In fact she instigates it. That's your running mate. You calm down the rhetoric in your crowd and she fires up the riotous rhetoric when she speaks. Sounds like good cop bad cop to me.

Why do the people who support McCain not realize, you are not voting for McCain? you are voting for inexperienced Palin? Palin who mind you, decided to make rape kits more expensive so that the money could go to something for nowhere? The hard fact is, McCain health is failing him, Palin does not know what she is doing, being a governor and doing really nothing? Plus i like how Obama just said that we should teach that sexuality is sacred. How can America portray such a idea, WHEN THE MAN WHO MANY OF YOU SUPPORTS VICE PRESIDENTS DAUGHTER IS PREGNANT??? PALIN SHOULD HAVE BEEN GOV. AS WELL AS A MOTHER BOTH OF WHICH SHE FAILED TO DO WELL.SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN LEADING HER CHILDREN IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.IF SHE CANNOT LEAD HER CHILDREN, SHE IS NOT FIT TO GIVE OPINION. ESPECIALLY SINCE IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS THE MCCAIN IS GOING TO DIE.sorry to say.

You must realize that Obamma is going to help the majority of people in America who are not wealthy and need the tax breaks. I say tax the rich more-they have not been paying thier proportionate share of the taxes anyway. It's about time someone looked after the needs of the average american. Those that are blessed with more should give more. Our country would be stronger when most Americans can support thier families, have decent paying jobs, affordable healthcare, educate their children and have a stable life. More people than not are living hand to mouth, paycheck to paycheck through no fault of thier own. That has got to change!

let me keep some of that money we've made and I could have continued to live in one of the best school systems in America...not now...had to move to a lower income city to make ends meet...no more of the same...no on McCain.

No one is winnig but the rich, Wake up and count the votes!

I have never seen anyone stray off the subject as much as McCain. He seems to be more against attacking Mr Obama rather than sticking to the questions at hand. And we really haven't seen a positive ad from McCain. If we put all his ads together there probably would only be very few positive ones. McCain needs to realize which century we are in and address the concerns of today. I know Mr. Obama will make a better president because he is addressing all the issues not dodging them.

It's immensely obvious who has the greater intelligence and class, to all those that tout experience. I'll take a level-headed leader with a solid plan over an idiot maverick with experience any day. I haven't heard yet what McCain's plans are, he's so busy trying to discredit Obama. Obama said it best, it says more about McCain that his focus has been on the negative and not on the issues.

Priscilla, maybe you better look at Obama, the eye blinking has been non-stop all night!

Priscilla, maybe you better look at Obama, the eye blinking has been non-stop all night!

To all the McCain/Palin supporters thank you for your time and effort, it was a good run but Obama is your new president. suck it up for the next four years.

i totally agree... obama is always focused and very respectful.... mccain -give it up already

School of choice...bus loads of students are shipped from Detroit to the lower income city to a small high school...class rooms are actually too large...this does not work...and no child left behind had its guts cut out...my wife and i worked for a much needed after school program at a great charter school...funds cut, program dropped, parents had to find other means and some of those means were more expensive.

NikkiL, come back and blog with us on November 5th, that should be interesting!

Please keep in mind that Obama is pro-union. McCain (just as Bush) would like to see unions die! even if you are not in a union - please keep in mind that Unions set a wage scale that helps the nonunion workers make an "OK" living also. Keep unions alive! Vote Obama!!!

MCCAIN/PALIN!!!!!!

Sorry, KenB... I can't take you up on that offer. I will be busy celebrating Obama's victory. See Susan's comment above "To all the McCain/Palin supporters thank you for your time and effort, it was a good run but Obama is your new president. suck it up for the next four years." !!!!!!!!!!

congratulations, Sen Obama, may God be with you.

McCain tried to memorize a pre written sheet of answers, Obama knows how he feels and knows what he wanted to say,
Obama! Obama!

nite Nikkil

Why is it that on multiple occasions Senator McCain does not address Obama by his name? The winner for tonight is again...Obama. Public debate is not Senator McCain's strong suit. I think he is a honorable servant to the country but not suitable for the presidency.

I hope all those young new voters for Obama actually make it to the polls.

Smooches, KenB. Please join us.

nite everyone...see you in Nov.

double digit lead...McCain/Palin supporters John" Insane" McCain is done.

Virgina for Obama!!!! A state always represented by republicains but now is lead by Democratic.

what is the trouble --- energy is the problem --- not one question about alaskan oil that is sold to china ,korea ,japan -- not one drop is used in the united states of america --- why didnt any of your debate people ask the canadates --- this important question --- yer unamerican --- abc --- whats wrong --- thanks for your kindness ---jc

If one of the people running would take the time to consider just what it is that they are even fighting for, it isn't for the people of this great land, that is all but forgotten. Look at all of the people that do not have health insurance. I don't. I have worked almost all of my life and now I am 51 and cannot afford health or life insurance. But the 4 people running to get elected sure can raise millions of dollars to spend on a stupid campaign. Why? If you are a good person and know what you need to do then why should you have to waste all that money on campaigning? I work hard too, and no one sends me any money.

obama was too kind to the old geser---i would have kicked his butt.---he would have paid for palins terrorist bs---but cool hand obama wins again.three more weeks and the mccain freak show will be over.and no more boris and natasha --the badenoughs.

Very good point Barbara! The system excludes many Good People from even running for office. The entire country needs to wake up and change the government back to what it was supposed to do. SERVE THE PEOPLE! (All of us.) G'nite Barbi.

palin can go back to frostbite falls with the rest of the nogoodnicks--and stare at russia.

Eric Clifford: I watched the debate tonight and I kept hearing about Joe the plumber. I heard some good questions and issues but I have to say, I think alot of our economy problems are related to the millions of illeagal Mexicans coming to our country in trucks un-abaided and directed to suburbs of major cities accross the US. I've watched my home town change dramatically over the last 8 years, I call it New Tijuana. It's no longer Joe the plumber, it's Jose. Anybody fighting for the working Americans would be discussing what to do about Jose the illeagal plumber because Jose is putting JOE out of business and causing Joe to default on his mortgage. I want to see news stories about what Legislators are going to do about Jose the plumber, painter, construction worker, welder, fast food service, heavy
Eric Clifford: equip. operator, truck driver, landscaper, auto mecanic, auto painter, auto glass, commercial glass workers that are illeagally here in the us or have work visas aquired through churches instead of proper us departments. I want to know why thousands of Illeagal Mexicans have taken over my Atlanta suburb home town dont speak a word of English or care to learn. When I say taken over, I mean top to bottom, hispanic banks, grocery, every business you can think of, PUTTING AMERICANS OUT OF WORK !!
That's what I want NBC to report on. Please have another debate on that, your ratings would SOAR because Us little guys want to know what Government is going to do about the REAL PROBLEM that everybody is steering clear of. Please.

Eric Clifford: I watched the debate tonight and I kept hearing about Joe the plumber. I heard some good questions and issues but I have to say, I think alot of our economy problems are related to the millions of illeagal Mexicans coming to our country in trucks un-abaided and directed to suburbs of major cities accross the US. I've watched my home town change dramatically over the last 8 years, I call it New Tijuana. It's no longer Joe the plumber, it's Jose. Anybody fighting for the working Americans would be discussing what to do about Jose the illeagal plumber because Jose is putting JOE out of business and causing Joe to default on his mortgage. I want to see news stories about what Legislators are going to do about Jose the plumber, painter, construction worker, welder, fast food service, heavy
Eric Clifford: equip. operator, truck driver, landscaper, auto mecanic, auto painter, auto glass, commercial glass workers that are illeagally here in the us or have work visas aquired through churches instead of proper us departments. I want to know why thousands of Illeagal Mexicans have taken over my Atlanta suburb home town dont speak a word of English or care to learn. When I say taken over, I mean top to bottom, hispanic banks, grocery, every business you can think of, PUTTING AMERICANS OUT OF WORK !!
That's what I want NBC to report on. Please have another debate on that, your ratings would SOAR because Us little guys want to know what Government is going to do about the REAL PROBLEM that everybody is steering clear of. Please.

Out with the old in with the new and improved president. Bye McCain. Maybe in your next life. God bless you both.

I have little belief in what in any politician says. WE, as a nation, tend to forget and forgive what our leaders promise once they go into office. It doesn't matter if they are man or woman. Mother or father. They promise one thing, but can only do what they are allowed to do. So, all the slamming of characters, eye-blinking and false smiling means nothing to me, as well as their promises. Tell me something that they can really bring to pass, and I might vote for that one.

The rain came as expected in Cleveland. People standing in line to vote covered their heads with plastic bags and newspaper; a few had umbrellas. I was so moved by what I saw that I drove home and grabbed my collection of umbrellas along with all the cashew, almonds, peanuts, and apples I could find and returned to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections on E. 30th street. I gave out the apples; bags of nuts passed from one hand to another. A group of elegantly dressed elderly women near the end of the line huddled together in an attempt to remain dry. I gave my umbrellas to them. They were from East Cleveland, they said, and arrived in the middle of the afternoon on a church bus. A lot of people waiting in line were from the various Cleveland neighborhood churches. Buses lined the streets for several blocks around the Board of Elections building.

I walked passed the Trinity Church on the corner of E. 30 and Euclid. Hand written signs tacked to the side entrance doors read - “Vote Now - Vote Big. Doesn’t matter who you voted for, come in for warmth and food”. I went inside. Volunteers dished out meatballs, fried chicken, potato salad, and green beans onto plastic plates. A table with cookies, cake, and lemonade stood perpendicular to the fried chicken table. The hall was filled with women dressed for church in stylish dresses and men in well-pressed suits. A young girl went around the room straightening table chairs, and brushes crumbs off the tabletops.

After shuffling through the food line, I set my plate down next to a man in his early sixties. He had a pencil thin mustache above his upper lip and wore a black pin stripped suit, white shirt, and gold cufflinks. He introduced himself as Sam. He told me tha