CNN

If you watch the line watching uncommitted voters and their reactions to Mr. Obama, he is scoring home runs. Who can say he isn't connecting with voters?? Y'all must not be listening

Obama is not being nearly as aggressive as McCain, who keeps making snide and unprofessional remarks at the end or start of his responses. Obama is definitely addressing the town hall more than McCain is.

Enough about Bill Clinton. That is long gone. get over it.

I repeated something on my DVR. Did McCain call Obama "that one?" Someone respond please.

Obama/Biden '08

I've often wondered about McCain/Palin ability to interact with minorities. As many know, the demographics are changing rapidly, however, during their campaign, I have not seen much diversity or even reaching out to urban areas. They are always going to small town America. It's apparent that he still has difficulty with eye contact.

This is not 1992 and neither one of them are Bill Clinton...get over it!!

I don't know I find Obama to be more personally connected to the voters than Mccain. All Mccain does is attack Obama on every question making it difficult for Obama to get to the question right away without first correcting Mccain's lies. The last thing Obama wants is for these voters to go away thinking he is going to raise taxes. You need to choose and pick your battles, which is hard to do if every other word is Obama is going to increase taxes. NOT TRUE!

I wonder how much of that is them, and how much of it is the way Brokaw is moderating. He's ruling with a heavy hand separating them from the people.

McCain is losing it! He's too smug. I can't see him as President. He is acting like a jerk, and repeats himself too much. My wife has a theory: he was once good looking, but has aged poorly because his inner evil is coming out. Could his showing tonight illustrate this? hmmm?

Has McCain given a direct answer to any question yet? I almost feel sorry for him - he's performing like a geriatric version of Palin during the VP "debate" the other night, ignoring and/or dancing all around the question at hand. .

McCain just babbles and babbles and babbles, but he never says anything.

Obama is connecting with me

At least I can understand Obama's points – but neither are connecting with the audience. I see no smiles from them. They look dazed.

Another observation: Brokaw is asking more of his questions than allowing the voters. I'm sure he's not un "uncommitted" or undecided voter.

It's a DIALOGUE, stupid! Not meant pejoratively towards the CNN folks. Grab control Tom and get these guys on line, please, it's after 3 here in Wales and I am falling asleep with this meeting just like I did at my town hall meetings in the USA... Stop bloviating and start talking to us.

Women are connecting more with Obama!
Your debate format never allows for real debate...so expect the campaign speeches to creep in!

It's pretty difficult to CONNECT, when you are "debating" with someone who is DISCONNECTED.

McCain starts answering with false statements and ridiculous attacks, forcing Obama to set the record straight!

Wait - if obama doesn't respond to the McCain desperate attacks - there will be huge misperceptions about his record. McCain and Palin started this a week ago with their "heating up." I think Obama is trying to respond to the questions and defend the McCain attacks.

Obviously Obama is connecting with the votres ((Bill))) ...We the ones blogging!!!

McCain is attacking. Obama is drawing comparisons. There's a difference.

I would love to see what Paul Begala suggested – one of them cross the line and walk MORE than 2 feet from their stools and greet the voters...

Well defined Bill...neither of them are Bill Clinton; they are, in fact, individuals with their own thoughts and ways of dealing with things. I wish I wasn't so restricted to CNN.com for my information when I'm at work. Ugh. Nonsense.

what are you talking about bill, obama has given very good answers explaining what he will do, while mccain walks off and looks down and around while obama speaks. its quite obvious who's connecting with the voters and who's just giving his stump. there's more to this than just sound bites.

that's it. i am done watching the debate. it's just more of the same. the candidates are just too boring and being evasive in answering question.

I think that the time limit contributes to it.

it's not the same format because of Brokaw. But overall, obama is very comfortable and loose. mccain, probably because of his physicial limiations, can't help but looked hunched over and tight.

Give me some truth. Lets hear a brillant candidate for a change. Ralph Nader – he has my vote.

I agree. Neither is even willing to talk to the people the way President Clinton or even Ross Perot was able to do.

mccain wouldn't qualify for his own healthcare plan - that pesky little preexisting condition he has.....

Is this 1992? Is Bill Clinton running? Then give it a rest, will ya? Geez!

This is really frustrating me but if McCain will stop with the smears! Obama wants to answer but can't; he has to defend the lies McCain is throwing!

I'm getting very disappointed in McCain.

Listen, if you were being attacked, would you not defend yourself. Let's be serious here, John McCain started with the attacks so Obama has no choice but to defend.

Tha's McCain's dirty politics tactic.

stop comparing.

Why does everyone have to be compared to Bill Clinton? Do you have anything else to critique them about?

Well what else are you expecting. McCain hasn't engaged in a coherent dialogue since 1957.

I agree, neither are addressing the voters concerns. It should be the 3B's of any debate or discussion: Be Brief, Be Bright and BE GONE!!!!

Bill Clinton is not on the menu tonight – get over it!

Why are you comparing the two candidates to Clinton? Its McCain or Obama and not either of them vs Clinton. Please wake up.

Obama is acknowledging the obvious. This is the first step to being a leader.

McCain repeats what Obama says, and Obama isn't answring the question? Does McCain have any original thoughts?By the way, I don't think that pointing out differences would qualify as an attack.

I FUNDAMENTALLY DISAGREE> MAYBE THEY'RE NOT CONNECTING TO YOU BUT IM AN ORDINARY AMERICAN MAKING LESS THAN $30000 A YEAR, STRUGGLING FROM PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK AND OBAMA CONNECTS WITH ME,

If we have to rank we all see mccain more out of touch

MOSTLY OBAMA!!! HE'S not connecting with ANYONE only the LIBERAL ELITE PARTY OF OBAMA can understand this man.

Go Obama!!! You are taking off now!!!

Get off the Clinton kick-these men are NOT Bill Clinton!

I think McCain has made a better connection than Obama. I agree with you, Bill, that neither are at the "I feel your pain" level. Still McCain 60-40

Seriously folks, if you want your candidates to stick to issues and not insulting each other, try doing the same.

How can you say that? It's a "new" voter now. We're getting "connected"...@least I am!

yeah its definitely a slapfight.

Why bring Bill Clonton into this? For one thing, they are not getting enough time to respond to the voters. Obama has to spend much of his time disputing the untrue attaks that McCain is using his time spewing out.

Obama is flat out lying right now. The man needs a lie detector hooked to him at all times.

Political confusion is always there.

I feel that Sen. Obama is connecting with me

I do not see it as a lateral attack session between the two. McCain is much more negative. AND he is skirting answering the questions. He acknowledges the questions then pivots to a portion of his stump speeches.

Go ahead and censor me out Bill – you do it all the time

Because it isn't 1992, and neither of these guys are Bill Clinton! They're different individuals. Get over it, sheesh.

as much as i want to disagree with you..i have to agree with you on this one!..Mccain knows this his is chance otherwise he keeps sinking in the polls...so he has to do wats necessary attack...

this campaign has made them extra defensive

Maccain is connecting with me cnn,,give it a rest..

I'm still waiting for the town to be let into the building.

Darn it Schneider they ARE NOT Bill Clinton. Geesh, get over it already!

McCain just seems to be very impatient

Did anyone hear that giant "thud" after McCain's snarky comment on Obama's supposed fines?

That looked awful

I disagree with you Bill. He is connecting with me.

the rules are constrictive...but aside from that..I think OBAMA is doing a great job of speaking to the voters in the hall, and to the viewers at home, like me.

Bill, did you know that President Clinton is already married to Senator Clinton? Get off it already.

We get how you feel about Bill. Get over it.

McCain seems bent on getting Tom B. to giggle. At least he'll connect with Tom.

I usually don't mind Scheider's work, but his curt little comments on this blog are beyond annoying.

Barack is actually giving answers and saying what he is going to do. McBush is just babbling!!

Obama/Biden '08

Bill, neither men are Bill Clinton. Please, stop looking for a comparison.

Obama's plans are always flexable to change...when someone better comes up with an idea...say Hillary or MCCain...he claims them for himself. So he is not flip-flopping...he is just going with the flow..kinda of like how he now claims he was first out there on the economic crisis...wrong..he did nothing for two years. NOTHING. Obama in not connecting with this group of voters because he seems fake.

I shiver at the thought of a SOCCER MOM running the country!!!!! NICE TRY on the diversionary tactics Palin/McCain..trying to get Americans to forget about the disaster we call the AMERICAN ECONOMY….AMERICANS GET OUT THERE AND PHYSICALLY VOTE FOR CHANGE!!!!!

Obama is connecting with me –

I have one vote the same as you, Bill

Just curious, did McCain refuse government healthcare for himself? What HMO does he use?

mostly McCain