Here's how I think this goes. [with poll]

Tonight we witnessed what, I believe, will become one of the classics of gotcha "debate."  Tonight's debate will be replayed, or referenced, much like the Nixon/Kennedy debates, with Nixon's sweaty lip.  Not because of its substance (precious little of that), but because, after 20 debates, and after spending thousands of hours of air time on Rev. Wright, etc., over the last several weeks, ABC chose to spend the first 45 minutes of the debate on gag reflex lizard brain issues, rather than try to educate the citizenry about the candidate's relative positions on health care, economics, the environment, etc.

So?

I think this plays out OK for Barack.  Here's how.

We were all upset after bitter-gate.  The sky was falling.  It was truly a campaign ending gaffe.  Yeah, right.  Pennsylvania voters paused a second, thought about it, and Obama bounced right back.  Nationwide Obama's numbers went up.

Tomorrow the blogs, the talking heads, and reich wing radio will be all abuzz about how Obama got creamed during the debate.  He was "on the defensive."  He "is finally getting vetted."  Etc., etc., rinse, repeat.

But the people of Pennsylvania will, I believe, look on this with disgust.  Nothing...nothing new came out tonight.  It was a pile on.  It was 3 against 1.  It was unfair.  And...it was a perfect example of what Obama was talking about in his "bitter" comments:  We've got two wars, 4000 dead kids, no WMD and an economy in the tank.  And these people wanted us to concentrate on what shiny thing???  A flag pin?

If the people of Pennsylvania are who we keep hearing they are (good, decent, fair, etc.), then this coordinated attack will do nothing but backfire on ABC (and the Hannity/George Steph axis).

Obama's numbers will go UP.  Not down.  Obama handled himself just fine, and people really are sick of the politics of distraction.

In sum...tonight will be a plus for Obama.