How to sum up. It was long and complicated up there on the stage between those three, a lot of finger pointing on the quesiton of campaign ads a real tangle, hard to watch, but maybe needed, but they handed that off sort of and got down to issues, energy, healthcare, supreme court, education, the answers and follow-ups to the questions were solid. I agree that Obama was steady and that McCain took a couple runs at him in terms of argument, but they both contributed well to the debate. I agree it is a contest of strength or wills too. We could use a couple more like this. Maybe the candidates needed to go at it too, blow off some steam. I do believe that whenever they get together the campaign moves positively forward. You get a conversation. I admire these two candidates, it's not easy to know these issues as well as they do…I guess that's true of a lot of people involved in this, but Obama and McCain have to take the heat, you can connect with that. I love the back and forth in the after debate discussion, and the different perspectives too. Moderator Bob Schieffer covered sensitive questions and a lot of ground overall thoroughly and unflappably

The FAT LADY is walking up to the mike!!!!!

No real candidates this time around, unfortunately. I'm going to vote the lesser of the two evils and vote for McCain. All politicians are liars and crooked but at least McCain doesn't pal around with terrorists.

I think tonight's debate had a clear winner. Only one candidate demonstrates that he's at all in touch with the real concerns of us regular folks and that was Obama. From tax policy to education, and most especially health care, Obama stuck to the issues and gave us clear and concise answers. McCain has provided us with nothing but hypocritical personal attacks and obviously has no idea what the average American needs.

I use to have a lot of respect for Senator McCain and I would have supported him in 2000 had he won the primary, but this campaign he has shown himself to be an angry old man that is completely out of touch with real people.

I know that reform in education is the primary path to take. Education is failing because the basic foundation is cracked. The old ways of teaching aren't working and many of the teachers aren't working either. They are running their tenure. The way of teaching the young needs to be different inas our children are different. They think differently then when we were kids. The education system needs to adapt to their way of thinking so we may impart the infomation in a way they understand it therefore learn it.

I also feel that McCain snide remarks toward Obama were childish.

Bill Ayers "used" to be a terrorist. He is an educator now. Doesn't that say that the system trusts him now? He is not in jail.

Please, people, let's look to the solution

Schieffer was a disgrace. Again and again he gave McCain the last word no matter who went first. He was totally biased and unprofessional.

Now let the American people have the final say.

I am glad McCain dissociated his self with President Bush, yet he could not quite explain the differences. Barack seemed more confidant……a leader. He put his ideas into words and this third debate was stronger than the last.

McCain only got one thing right in the whole debate. "Americans are very angry". Obama wins again. McCain's answers are rehearsed, like a broken record. Obama comes through as fresh, clean, and having a lot of great new ideas that will work. I had one spot blank on my ballot to fill in. Choice for President. The ballot is complete, the envelope sealed, it's ready to mail in.

I became very concerned seeing John McCain roll his eyes repeatedly while Barack Obama was speaking. Imagine if he disagrees with a leader of a foreign nation and he shows such little diplomacy and respect. The foreign relations already in jeopardy between the US and the rest of the world could become more dangerous with that kind of lack of discipline.

What did McCain mean by Palin is close to the issue of autism? Twice. Was McCain saying that Palin has an autistic child?

ABOUT TIME !!!!!!!!

The MAVERICK Returns.
MCcain Won This One.
HE ALSO WON MY VOTE !!!!!!!

Obama is clearly the winner.

Whomever it is that McCain has been looking to in the audience for guidance must secretly be an Obama supporter. I'm not sure I fully understood, but I believe that McCain just said that his answer to education policy is to have "bad teachers get different jobs" and retired military start teaching. He's really thinking out of the box now.
Wow, the rest of his answer on education is nothing but a mix of venomous sarcasm and ridiculous pandering. Obama, on the other hand, is explaining his education plan with the same grace and clarity that he has illustrated on everyone of his previous answers.

Hey, Josie Richards what about your punctuation. Your correcting Faye Hicks when you need to check your own message. Democrats are used to C average republicans.
GO OBAMA!!!

The undecideds are just the undeclared, even my wife can make a choice in 7 weeks.

Anyone can accept criticisms for bad decisions but saying someone had bad character is rude and unbecoming.

John McCain as the presumptive head of the Republican Party can not escape how they have botched the economy, the budget and the arrogance of governing is something that will haunt him.

Packaging Sarah Palin as someone who has the talent to make decisions and lead is impossible. She has clearly demonstrated based on her record and her words that she is not the answer to any of our problems. However if someone needs charm and makeup tips, she might be of marginal utility.

Let women and families along with doctors decide what they want to do and its not up to the state. I agree with McCain is completely out of control… "Joe the plumber you're rich" (smirk) how much money did McCain pay Joe the plumber for the info???? OBAMA has won this one also. HOME RUN on this debate. McCain's family has the money to adopt and with 7 houses he can house them. Look at the cabin no cell phone so they get a tower. here in rural america, we need jobs, good doctors, and schools if they have all that money lets start using it for rural america and keep jobs here. Health care we have over 55% seniors here and with all the cost going up they have to decide on electric, food or med's. lets take care of them.

When Bush and the McCain took office 8 years ago there was a surplus. Eight years later look at where we are. America can not go through another 4 years of the Republican regime. Enough is enough! The party is over! GO Nancy Pelosi!

McCain needs new answers. He's being coached, that's all we'll get if he's president. How can Americans elect another puppet?

Wow. This just gets worse and worse and worse. McCain is completely out of control… "Joe the plumber you're rich" (smirk) followed by the gold-plated healthcare comment about cosmetic surgery and "transplants" What a pathetic attempt to suggest that Joe Biden is an elite man with gold-plated health insurance because he got hair plugs. It's a pathetic claim with such pathetic delivery that most won't even understand what he is referring to. I'm not sure that McCain will get anyone's vote at this point, maybe not even "Joe the plumber" who is apparently McCain's new best friend.

Why is McCain keep changing the words that comes out of Obama's mouth? We are listening to what they both are saying and yet he still wants to lie on TV. He have heart.

Ok to "look at" off shore drilling…didn't exxon valdez spill devaste fishing grounds around Prince William Sound, but energy is a pressing issue, McCain's basic argument is hurry up

McCain lets hope he don't bring up his war history, folks we have others that are HERO's from the WAR. "ITS NOT JUST MCCAIN WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE THAT JUST HIM IN THE WAR AND WAS A POW" lets give everyone a THANK YOU FOR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY

FINALLY,,, Hopefully the media will acknowledge McCain WINS this one…

Obama reacts with lots of "Ands"… and "Uhs"….

McCain is so much more experienced… Obama,,, YOU LOSE….

McCain has nothing left but character attacks and false accusations. he is finished.. John Mccain has had more than a century in Washington. A change agent, reformer, or maverick he is not!

McCain needs a reality check. When he goes to bed at night is he worrying about higher food and gas prices or how he's going to provide healthcare for his family. I think his only worry is which house key goes to which house. 7 houses wow!

McCain has nothing left but character attacks and false accusations. he is finished. John Mccain has had more than a century in Washington. A change agent, reformer, or maverick he is not!

I think it is truly sad that Senator McCain,who reportedly has been very respected all of these years, is going to be left with such a negative legacy. Whoever has been advising him has done a HORRIBLE job. Of course, Sarah Palin was his own brilliant move. Shame on him for thinking women who supported Hillary Clinton would automatically jump for Sarah Palin. I think not!

Someone shut McCains mouth when he is waiting for his turn and this is showing his age. OBAMA is answering question and staying calm you can see McCain is trying to stay calm its not work you are starting to show your true self.

John McCain lost this election with this Ayers stuff. He proved he has nothing of substance to run on & he also wasn't truthful in saying that he has repudiated every negative thing said at his rallies-unless he's done it telepathically, I've only seen him do it twice-with the man & his pregant wife & the woman who falsely called Obama an Arab.

To call Obama "Osama" is a blatant attempt to get people to vote for McCain out of the emotion of fear. The fact that anyone would do that and then complain that some vote out of emotion rather than intellect is right in line with the incredible accusations coming from the McCain campaign. The people of the world are tired of the Rovian policies of accusing others of your own greatest sins.

lets start having all the fuel available in states that they are paying not to pump start pumping this will increase our oil and not used the other. Lets start at home lets use solar power and wind, lets put the ocean to work those waves is a great start. Here McCain goes again with those upsetting laughs. glad to be listening and not watch McCain I get more upset when he does those on camera response. Grow up and act like an adult.

I really hope this puts an end to the Bill Ayers stuff. Asked & answered. Like Obama said, we have more important things to concern ourselves with.

the rubber room. the romper room, the dark room,… the bathroom!

lohn mccain did interfere with sen. omara without being corrected by the moderator. this is wrong

I think they need to keep the camera off McCain if he is going to keep making the his laughs and remarks in the back ground and STOP TRYING TO BE ON SCENE. OBAMA is doing a great job, McCain acts like a pup who has been acting up and needs to be sent to the corner (or quite time). OBAMA/BIDEN is our next leaders.

McCain wants to be a General. He just can't wait to be in charge of the War. We will not even give him the chance.

Who can afford Joe the plumber? Exxon executives !

Did Mccain make an absolute joke of himself in tonight's debate?
"You BETCH'YA!!!"

He is insane tonight.

hey faye hicks, learn to spell, its "captured" and i'd like to see osama, ..obama go through and survive what john mccain did, and you too for that matter, i bet you couldnt, and neither could osama aka obama. this country should make people take tests before voting. people are getting more stupid by the minute, vote by emotion, not intellect. If we get obama all who voted for him will get what you deserve, unfortunately us innocent ones will get screwed as well, another jimmy do nothing carter,yay….

John you are so sad. Ayers was a wacko and you are acting like a joke. You picked Palin for the Hillary vote. She is a joke too. Send her back to reform Alaska.

Go Obama!

MCCain as president would be a disaster!! In the final debate he looks like he's on his last year of life and acts like his only living his 5th. My 5 year old daughter could come up with better economic relief plans and would be way more respectful (as opposed to childish) in running against Obama. I don't agree with all of Obama's campaign but he has my vote over dumb and dumber

Go Obama. obama's grandfather raised him. That makes him American. Bill Clinton was a ladies man, but we had jobs and money. If Obama does that we will be good. He can be asked to change who his father was. Both of them know shady people.

McCain is not composed. He appears angry and flustered. He has interrupted Obama repeatedly. McCain is not a statesman. He has no diplomacy. He is showing us that tonight.

Maybe have an unacceptable wet t-shirt contest to help patch things up…

DID YOU HEAR JOHN MCSANE MAKE NOISIES AND GESTURES…HE IS LAUGHING AND BEING DISRESPECTFUL!!!!!! HE IS A LIAR AND GRASPING FOR STRAWS!! HE IS A IGNORANT MAN!!!

I believe McCain has lost. Caribou Barbie and his shell game of name-calling killed his chances.

Also, #39 Briana, I am watching Project Runway too. Team Obama and Team Korto.

Did any one here Mccain say he doesnt mind paying a little bit taxes ? I didnt, obama said he did not mind. So what did Mccain say?

Obama Insider October 15th, 2008 9:01 pm ET

"I hope it doesn't get out that Obama will appoint William Ayers as Secretary of Education. If that gets out, they'll be plenty of room for McCain. Whoops … I guess I let it out of the bag"

Do you want William Ayers as Secretary of Education???

PEOPLE LIKE YOU ARE THE ONES MESSING THE SYSTEM AND NOT BEING TRUTHFUL AND HONEST TO YOURSELF. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU, YOU ARE VICIOUS AND WITHOUT CONSCIOUS. SPREADING A FALSE RUMOR IS NOT PATRIOTIC.

NO MATTER WHO YOU DECIDE TO VOTE, BE CIVIL AND RESPECTFUL TO THE OTHER.

MCCAIN IS NOT AN ANGEL. I WILL TAKE AYER ANY DAY OVER SARAH PALIN, WHO IS HEART BEAT AWAY FROM BEING NEXT IN COMMANDER IN CHIEF. DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT TODD PALIN??? NO, I GUESS. GO FIND OUT, I AM SURE YOU WILL NOT LIKE THE ANSWER.

I AM A REGISTERED INDEPENDENT AND WAS UNDECIDED UNTIL MCCAIN TICKET STARTED WITH THEIR PERSONAL ATTACK WITHOUT AND FULLY ADDRESSING WHAT HE CAN DO DIFFERENTLY FROM CURRENT REGIME.

I AM VOTING FOR OBAMA/BIDEN COME 11/4. HE IS MORE EDUCATED AND SMARTER TO GET THIS COUNTRY BACK TO WHERE TO WAS

The more the McBush compaign continues with his nasty negative adds, the more and more of the undecides get turned off and vote for Obama!!

So let me guess, now you want Senator McCain to withdraw? The polls have been manipulated, millions of dead voters are ready to vote and all the cards are stacked against McCain so he should just quit huh? Ha…Ha….The truth will come out about the primary and McCain will WIN in November.

Let's get McCain off the political stage and into a retirement home. Biden can take a bed next to him as they are both approaching senilty.

So let's see, who might the future be? Well, who drew the biggest TV audience in the debates? Who draws 25-50,000 people at rallies everytime they speak? Who's only 44 and will be a powerhouse in American politics long after McCain and Biden are in the ground?

Sarah Barracuda Palin 2012 & 2016′

Whatever John give me a break. Stop using those same old lines you used in the debates you lost earlier.

Poor John thinks if he uses joe 6 pack or joe the plummer these people will vote for him. Maybe…….John is a repub is for the wealthy not you.

Palin talks to Joe Six Pack and McCain talks to Joe the Plumber. The shameful part of these addresses to the Joes of the world is that neither Palin nor McCain speak truth nor have actual content in what they say. McCain's chuckle and snide comment that Obama wants to make Warren Buffett a plumber was ridiculous. In addition, McCain interrupted Obama rudely to say over and over…. cut taxes… cut taxes…. Does he recall that this and deregulation was the center of the GWB economic policies that go us here?

What war did he win? He was in Viet Nam, and we did not win that. My husbnd came home with Agent Orange. My son was in Desert Storm. We did good there. Palin said he was good at war. Why did he get captivered.

The country always took pride in its diversity and the ‘melting pot’ was actually considered a strength of this great nation…however it is disturbing to see that many illiterate and/or ignorant Americans can still NOT SEE beyond a candidates appearance and background……

He needs to loosen up, and take his best swing on the issues, get his running mate Sarah Palin up to speed on the issues too

The real problem is that the republicans and McCain have not shown any real values or decisions on issues that are relevant. The focus on character attack after character attack. McCain does not discuss issues. Fear, hatred, fear and hatred is all that he seems to know. What does that say about him and his party?

There is no room for him to succeed anywhere—it's too late and he was too stupid, just like Hillary.

However, in 2012, Sarah Palin (who draws the biggest crowds of anybody and blitzed Obama by 10 million people in her debate) will be free of that idiot McCain and will launch a successful campaign for President.

By that time, Obama will have been impeached for failing to deliver the country out of the depression as people will be selling apples on street corners.

Sarah Palin 12 & 16′

sorry I meant NC!!!!!!! come out NOV 4TH and vote

don't spread my wealth!!!

LOL

This is hysterical

McCain was with Bush when he gave all that money to AIG

Hahaha Obama Insider I guess Jesse Jackson is slated to be Secretary of State too, huh? Because Barack and Jesse are tight like that….yeah.

McCain, You're a clown. Hang it up. You have no plan!!!!

That poor Joe the plumber must be confused by now thanks to McCain

Hasn't McCain been giving the wealth to the rich for a lot of years

We've got Joe Six-Pack….Joe The Plumber…….Where's Joe SCHMOE on Wall St?

I work for a hosptial in Texas. McCain voted and hurt us so we could keep clinics open for the poor kids.

Look at McCain he looks funny.

I'm watching project runway. I know who I'm voting for.

GO OBAMA GO!!!!!!!!
va and dc you better come out and vote NOV 4th

Clearly McCain needs to go on the attack. The reason the voters don't care that Obama was one of ten members of a major charitable foundation's board of directors, one of whom was a violent 60's war protester turned do-gooder, or a liberal organization doing voter registration had to fire some morons in Nevada for registering Micky Mouse and the Dallas Cowboys eighty times isn't because THESE ARE NON-ISSUES, it's because they haven't been told about them enough times.

I certainly hope McCain brings these issue up in the debate tonight. Man alive, that'll be a game-changer.

The plotical race probably will do a major turn around in the next few weeks.

I think you all may be surprised on Nov. 4th. The only poll that counts is that one. 3 weeks is a long time to inform people. And yes character, judgement and experience are really issues.

Why is John McCain down in the polls Lou Dobbs had the nerve to ask this question. I am not a Jonn McCain fan but the reason he is behind in the polls is Sarah Palin, Bill O'Reilly,Sean Hannigy,Carl Rove, Rush Limbaugh,Glenn Beck, and you to Mr. Lou Dobbs. All in a nut shell. Along with all McCain's negative campaine ads they all gave him free negative campaining to go with it.

i really liked mccain in 2000 it's sad to see him so far right.maybe if he was himself from the start he would be in the lead.or maybe im wrong this is how he has obama right where he want's him

Palin is a hot head and if John McCain wins, and dies in office. She will have her in a world war.

We think Senator McCain should just blast Obama tonight with all the concerns the American people have. Let him have it.

I hope it doesn't get out that Obama will appoint William Ayers as Secretary of Education. If that gets out, they'll be plenty of room for McCain. Whoops … I guess I let it out of the bag.

Do you want William Ayers as Secretary of Education???

John McCain, by going negative and not talking about the things that's effecting the American People, he shot his self in the foot. He miss the opportunity to talk about the economy. The most important thing to the majority of the people. The days of thinking that negative ads work, is over when so many people are in need and hurting. John McCain, I truly believe has lost his chance of ever being President of the United States. John McCain should have been the John McCain of 2000, his chances would have been better.

John McCain will not do what he says. So he was in Viet Nam, so was my husband. Obama can do what he says, if he taxes the oil companies. MCcAIN HASN'T. Palin isn't Joe-six pack

democrats/PA

I am so sure you are black. When has Obama looked down on you? Give me a break. Sounds like one of McCain's staffer is not interested in the debate tonight and is here. McCain is the man who could not look at Obama in the eye like a real man would do. So whatever. Your one vote want be enough.

The room is at one of his 7 - 9 mansions or his 13 cars or the 7 free towers from At&t and Verizon that he was given.

This news can be fact checked and you'll find that it is the truth.

Shelli of Georgia

name me one country that a black men is leader and that country is doing well ?

Don't get too confident Obama supporters…….GET OUT AND VOTE ON NOV 4TH!!!!!! We can celebrate big time then and not before!!

VOTE OBAMA/BIDEN ON NOV 4TH

McCain wants to OBTAIN WORLD DOMINACE through WAR

thre is no time no way no how FOR THIS OLD INSANE MCSAME guy
he is an embarrasement
he is

shame on him and the brainless sara palin

One word to describe John McCain: REFORM!

I just heard on MSNBC that McCain got FREE CELL PHONE TOWERS FROM ATT AND VERIZON ON HIS RANCH IN SEDONA as well, just like Donna posted earlier. McCain did oversee those comnpanies on the Commerce Committee. He also has someone on his campaign that worked for Verizon as a lobbyist. WOULDN'T THAT BE CONSIDERED A "KICKBACK"?

Hmmmmm……..

Doesn't that all sound very suspicious???

I'm voting for Obama/Biden tomorrow because he looks at us - not down on us.

McCain doesn't even know we're here. He can't look anyone in the eye. His wife wore a fake cast so she didn't have to shake hands with anyone. The have more money than most of us can even imagine. They will be fine. We won't if we vote for him.

Is the McCain campaign that stupid not to HEAR what the American people have been saying lately? The only people who want to hear him continue his personal attacks on Obama are those people who would never vote for Obama any way. Most Americans want to hear about the current issues affecting all of us. We don't want to hear about ACORN, Ayers, Rezko and how Obama doesn't see America the way Palin does.

Seem to be the end of the STR8 talk Caboose. He needs to take his Dipsy Doodle Poodles (Sindy and Sarah Airhead) for a long walk in the park. Hes got no messege, got no ideas, got no honor. The thing that made me turn so hard against McCain is his selection for VP. I hope he realises how this arrogant , blind, ignorant idiot cost him the election. It is frightening how she may have been close to running this country, but thank God , this nightmare is pretty much over. She is living proof that we need at least a basic IQ test and quite possibly o basic understanding of how the world operates to even be concidered for the 2ND HIGHEST SEAT IN THE COUNTRY. Good Lord could you imagine her as our PRESIDENT? We would be the laughing stock of the world.. Blows my mind that JM wants the POTUS so bad he would comprimise the entire country. Seems very UNHEROIC!!!!

I think it's too late. McCain has flipped so many times, trying to reinvent himself, he has spent his political capital and depleted his reserves of credibility. It would take a miracle or a monumental Obama blunder. Neither are likely to happen in the next three weeks.

The only things I want to hear from this man is about Sarah Palin and her ethical lapses, her "earth is flat" philosophy and her connection to the Alaskan Independence Party. I want to know if she or her husband, who seems to meddle in her governmental affairs, agrees at all with any of the statements made over the years by members of this organization. I also want McCain to explain to me why he cheated on his wife, why he talks about Ronald Reagan like the man was his long-lost father when we know that Pres. Reagan became disgusted with him, and why McCain has allowed Palin so much leniency to make outrageous claims against his opponent.

Obama/Biden '08

John McCain can succeed if he admits that he was wrong on deregulation for the financial and medical industry. John McCain can also admit he was wrong in picking an unqualified Sarah Palin .

John McCain can come clean with the American people and admit that he has been less than truthful so far in this campaign and that he is willing to engage in the real issues with the remaining time.

Anything else will continue with the utter failure of this republican campaign.

I beleive that these personal attacks appear to be a way to attempt to get the American people to not focus on the issues. I believe that McCain should be focusing on the real issues facing the American people today and stop the name calling, all this tells me is that he does not have any real plans on how to handle the problems we have so he makes an attempt to divert the attention of the voters so that they do not realize that he does not appear to have any real solutions. The best thing that McCain could do to try and save his campaign is to put a gag on Palin.

yes , we will!

At least they are having him seated..his wandering and meandering last debate was annoying and rude. Poor old duffer he doesn't look well to me. Go get him Barack!! Canada loves you!

The minute he goes negative, he firms up the base but he sacrifices the swing voters/independents. If he feels he can win with just the base, then Inauguration Day will see Barack Obama as President.

The one thing that has brought people to the Obama camp is indeed the economy. Obama promises them all welfare checks.

There is NO room for McCain to succeed!

Call it the BIGGEST BACKLASH IN HISTORY!

iam a blackman
and a vet and still will vote foe McCain/palim
obama looks down on people like he is better then us

well, there's always the choice of 'suspending his campaign' considering the daily looming financial crisis….

CZECHOSLOVAKIA

WE NEED CHANGE, NO REPUBLICANS, NO MILLIONAIRE McCAIN.

John McCain has an easy road to success. All he needs to do this evening is announce his retirement from the Senate, accept his defeat in November and become a successfully retired politician.

someone asked me today …

" If you support Obama so strongly, Why don't you have a bumper sticker or a sign in your yard?"

I said " I am scared of Republicans. "

Please get out and Vote.
* wink wink *

In a development which will hurt McCain with undecideds, it was disclosed today that he has been provided with free cellphone towers by Verizon and AT&T at the Sedona Ranch. This is particularly disturbing since McCain is on the Commerce committee, which oversees both companies.

Honestly Hillary, the time has past.