Saturday, September 27th, 2008

Presidential candidates met for their first debate Sept. 26 in Oxford, Miss.

Senators John McCain and Barack Obama took a break Sept. 26 from Senate negotiations over the economic bailout plan to engage in the first presidential debate of 2008. McCain had originally called to have the debate postponed, but Obama declined the request, and the McCain campaign agreed early Friday to participate as scheduled.

Jim Lehrer of PBS moderated, doling out questions on the economic bailout, taxes, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Russia and other issues. The economy was a last-minute addition to the slate of questions, as the current crisis demanded the candidates address it in some fashion.

Lehrer encouraged the candidates to talk directly to each other, an activity that is generally not part of formal debate ettiquite. Obama seemed to take to the style change well, frequently addressing McCain by his first name and attempting to make eye contact. McCain seemed to be more comfortable in a traditional debate stance.

A new talking point emerged from McCain during the debate; on many occasions he stated that Obama “doesn’t get it” or “doesn’t understand” various issues — a new, direct approach to painting the young senator as inexperienced. Obama continued to tie McCain to the current administration, pointing out that the senator from Arizona has voted with Bush 95% of the time. McCain parried by calling Obama the “most liberal” senator, though this claim is difficult to measure.

Notable exchanges included discussion of earmark spending, nuclear energy and the arguable success of the Iraq war thus far. The candidates also engaged in a debate of diplomatic semantics when Lehrer asked about Obama’s July 2007 primary debate response that he would “be willing to meet separately, without precondition, during the first year of your administration, in Washington or anywhere else, with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea.”

Both candidates performed strongly in the debate, and neither has been declared a definitive winner. What do you think? Voice your opinion in the comments!

Missed it? See NYT’s interactive video and transcript. See also their fact check of statements made throughout the debate.

Photo credit: CNN.com/AP

Drew Barrymore and Zach Braff are coming to Drexel Sept. 29 to help the Drexel Democrats register students to vote, according to drexeldems.org.

They will be on campus from 10:25 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. to raise awareness of the Oct. 6 deadline to register to vote, according to an email from the Obama campaign.

Media Credit: drexeldems.org