OXFORD, Mississippi (CNN) — Awards so far for best upper cuts:

–Obama, questioning why McCain would object to going into Pakistan to get Al Qaeda, since he's someone who sings songs about bombing Iran. (he did once, months ago on the campaign trail, as a joke: "Bomb Bomb Bomb. Bomb Bomb Iran," sung to the tune of the Beach Boys' "Barbara Ann." Hasn't sung it since.)

Watch: Analyzing the debate

–McCain, explaining why he will not commit to meeting with the Head of Spain: because "I don't even have a seal yet" — a reference to an instance this summer when Obama's campaign put a presidential-like seal on his podium. Lots of ridicule resulted. The seal hasn't been seen since.

Watch: Sen. John McCain explains why the U.S. cannot allow Iran to have nuclear weapons.

OXFORD, Mississippi (CNN) — Debates are always a good thing — but anybody hear anything new? The two of them stayed pretty flat the whole night.

Watch: Undecided voters weigh in

Still, McCain worked in the phrase Obama "doesn't understand" several times, and Obama linked McCain to Bush several times — so I assume their campaigns will claim mission accomplished.

OXFORD, Mississippi (CNN) — To me, this is the most difficult topic of all they have just gotten into: the deaths of American service people in Iraq. Essentially, it really boils down to this: If the U.S. pulls out before "victory," did they die for nothing?

McCain has never said those soldiers will have died in vain if there is not victory, but says that honoring them properly means not leaving before winning.

Obama says that no American soldier ever dies in vain. It is the most painful question, I think — something that will be discussed in the history books on this era.

The conversation is mostly being directed to Lehrer.

OXFORD, Mississippi (CNN) — I think Jim Lehrer gave up trying to get them to talk to each other. It's even weirder in the hall — they are no more than 8 feet apart from each other and they speak to Lehrer only. But A+ for the effort.

OXFORD, Mississippi (CNN) — Forty minutes in, and it looks like we have moved off the economy. I can't help but wonder if that 40 minute conversation was more confusing than enlightening — I heard a lot of campaign trail lines from both, though the volume is lower.

OXFORD, Mississippi (CNN) — Poor Jim Lehrer: he can't get either of these candidates to say which of their promises they will have to postpone because of the $700 billion bailout and general bad condition of the economy. Candidates rarely promise to cut programs…

(CNN) – This is a new kind of debate — an attempt at a real back and forth. Moderator Jim Lehrer is trying to get these candidates to talk to each other, but they don't have the hang of it yet; they level their charges at each other, but they're looking at Lehrer or the television cameras.

(CNN) — Too early to see how the night will end up, but both these candidates seem very flat — maybe it's been a tiring few days?

Sarah Palin is set to speak at the RNC tonight at 10 p.m.

It's nowhere near a full house inside the stadium, but it will certainly fill up with delegates as "prime time" nears.

It doesn't look like they will be disappointed with the speech of John McCain's designated No. 2 Sarah Palin.

For sure, Sarah will not come quietly into this great convention hall. Excerpts include the following:

"Here's how I look at the choice Americans face in this election. In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers. And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change."

And this:

"I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a 'community organizer,' except that you have actual responsibilities."

Team McCain has called this a night to "more sharply define the differences" — that's political speak for "go after the other team."

Enter Sen. Joe Lieberman, the 2000 Democratic vice presidential candidate at the 2008 Republican Convention.

"I'm here because country matters more than party," he said to a standing ovation.

Fred Thompson, the actor and former presidential contender, is now performing the way people expected he would when he ran for president last year: relaxed, eloquent, and good pacing.

Definitely not the Fred Thompson that showed up on the campaign trail last fall — His heart seems more into this ode to John McCain than any speech he ever gave running for president.

There was an incredibly moving tribute to Navy seal, Michael Monsoor, who threw himself on a grenade to save fellow seals in 2006, in the process giving his own life.

He received the Medal of Honor posthumously. His sister is here. She received a sustained standing ovation. Several other medal recipients from previous wars are also being honored — leading to the most exercised this crowd has been so far tonight. Now two dozen former POWs from Vietnam are being honored — old soldiers make for poignant moments.

Laura Bush, in her second appearance at this convention gets big applause too. She is the most popular person in the White House right now — her approval rating is over 60 percent.

She puts her seal of approval on Sarah Palin: "I'm proud the nation's first female vice-president will be a republican woman."

The Bushes received a standing ovation at the RNC tonight.

George H.W. Bush (the Dad) and Barbara Bush just walked into the auditorium of the Republican National Convention and got a standing ovation.

They'll soon listen to their son, slated to beam in via satellite from the White House.

Next up, a first responder to the Minneapolis bridge collapse last year. They are currently showing video of her crawling into a partially submerged car.

Coleman is running for the Minnesota senate against Al Franken.

The hometown boy, Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman, is getting some almost-prime time exposure at the podium now.

Coleman is a big GOP hero for winning a Senate seat in the 2002 race against former senator, vice president, and 1984 presidential candidate Walter Mondale.

He was once a member of the Democratic Party (known in Minnesota as the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party), and is a former mayor of St. Paul — the site of the this years Republican convention.

Coleman currently faces a tough senate re-election race against former Saturday Night Live comedian Al Franken.

Read Coleman's full speech after the jump

Read the rest of this entry »

Republicans are handing out homemade signs.

Hurricane Gustaf turned out to be less a disaster than originally thought, so things are finally under way at the 2008 Republican Convention.

It's a pretty full arena for an opening night but a different crowd than the Democratic Convention: more ties, fewer crazy hats, and less milling around while the speakers speak.

The party has been passing out "homemade signs," mass produced by volunteers with paintbrushes and poster boards.

Machine produced signs at the ready in every floor seat reading "Country First."

Watch critics are hitting Obama hard for this stage. CNN's Jessica Yellin reports.

DENVER (CNN) — Camp Obama is stinging over Republican barbs that the stage tonight, surrounded by thousands of spectators, is "the Temple of Obama."

His campaign manager came out to say GOP has it all wrong — that Obama wanted as many people as possible to be involved in this night because the election is about them. I think. Also gave some hard sell on how to get involved. Obama-ites are all over the place, passing out volunteer cards.

DENVER (CNN) — It’s 4:15 Mountain Time — about four hours until Barack Obama’s speech — and Mile High Stadium is just beginning to fill up, although there are still lots of empty seats in the second and third tiers. It’s an all-star rollout for the last session of the convention. Iowa gymnast Shawn Johnson — who won the Olympic gold — made an appearance, and Jennifer Hudson of "Dream Girls" sang the National Anthem.

John Kerry speaks at the DNC.

DENVER (CNN) — John Kerry gave the speech Democrats wish he had given at his own convention four years ago. It was very tough: "how dare they…" suggest who is a patriot and who isn't. The surprise guest: Barack Obama's uncle, a World War II hero.

Bill Clinton back in 1992.

DENVER (CNN) — They played Bill Clinton's signature 1992 song as he walked into the convention center in 2008. The refrain: "Don't Stop Thinkin' About Tomorrow."

Watch: Bill Clinton says Obama's right for the job

The other part of that refrain sticks out tonight: "Yesterday's gone, yesterday's gone."

Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius got a warm welcome Tuesday night.

DENVER (CNN) — Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius garnered the most applause since Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich's 'wake-up America' riff.