Obama's jabs with the right land solidly. But McCain keeps bulling straight ahead oblivious to the damage being inflicted on him. McCain leaves an opening, but Obama doesn't land the KO punch.
The debate was like watching Sugar Ray Leonard fight Roberto Duran. We had the graceful skilled boxer, moving around the ring and landing punches where and when he wanted, against the straight ahead brawler, who keeps coming straight ahead, doesn't flinch from a punch, and relies on his ability to withstand more damage than the other guy.
McCain left Obama an opening which surprised me. When McCain talked about fighting government spending his whole career, Obama should have said, "Then you've FAILED, John. Government spending has increased more during your career in Washington than at any other time in our country's history. You may have fought the good fight, but you've been utterly ineffective. In this time of crisis, America cannot afford to have you FAIL yet again. You have experience, but your record is one of FAILING at reaching your goal. I offer a new direction and a new approach. I will succeed where you have FAILED, and I hope you will continue your fight in the Senate against wasteful spending by helping me during my presidency."
If Obama had delivered those lines, we might have seen a classic McCain meltdown, or perhaps even a "No mas" moment. Oh well, maybe in Obama/McCain II. But before that, we will get to see the undercard in a week. Biden/Palin could be more like Tyson/Spinks, except Spinks was a more articulate speaker. Maybe Biden could take the Ali approach and rattle off some poems. "She may be able to shoot and dress a moose, but when I'm done with her, McCain will cut her loose." Or "On energy, she might be great, but with nothing else, there ends her fate."