Debate Liveblog - Table Tennis Format

9:00 An ordinary start

9:07 Joe the Plumber

9:14 Simple answer to the Small Business 250k question. The 95% of families who get a tax break are Joe the Plumbers customers. Now, they put off new bathrooms or necessary repairs. Joe's business needs a healthy economy to succeed. Would Joe like real customers to build his business on or the imaginary concern of John McCain who weights his generosity to huge businesses?

9:23 Nice answer on the "when have you challenged your party?" questions. I didn't recall the tort reform vote, but clean coal, teacher pay etc probably resonate well.

9:25 Ayers-War!

9:26 Townhall meetings would have improved the tone? Repudiate John Lewis, "I man I admire etc"?

9:29 BO: "I think the American people are less interested in our hurt feelings..." OWhhh. Matthews will be all over that.

9:32 BO: "The american people have become cynical about our politics" True, but not useful to tell them that. "Elitist"-bait. Was nice to hear the actual words - stoppers, "When my name is brought up, words like "terrorist" and "kill him" are tossed out. Awkward.

This is the raw stuff with so many culprits that noone wins

9:36: Acorn, Ayers - destrying the fabric of american democracy. Uhhuh. Here comes ayers proper.

9:38 The Annenberg/ Reagan Maneuver, well executed. ACORN 2006 Conference Keynote speaker, John McCain - "You (ACORN Volunteers) are the best of America" or something similar

9:40 Ayers/Acorn - A draw, and a waste of time

9:42 Predictable Biden synopsis. "Americans have gotten to know Sarah Palin. " And how. The chimerical resume follows, as long as no follow up questions.

9:44 Biden voted against Gulf War 1, good hit. Biden's idea of Iraq divvied up is just postponed till we leave.

9:48 McCain's doing okay, but still a little jangly. Obama need to loosen up a bit too.

9:49 - Nuclear-powered ships for 60 years = no porblem of storage for spent fuels? A non sequitur. Ask the folks at Yucca Mountain

9:53 - Trade with human rights issues as baseline seems good. Wonder how this plays with indies?

9:55 - Energy has secondary impacts - transport sector, new biz categories created, jobs follow. Too nuanced? I bet not. Same thing with Joe the plumber that needed to be noted - tax cuts lead to spending. Seems like people like the next level of understanding from the big chair, put simply of course

10:01 - Did mccain not know about the Small Biz exemption? oww. Funny thing - the "men" line on the CNN sensometer is just above median for Obama --- "Yawnnn". The "women" line is hovering up high - wonder who deals with the health realities of families?

10:05 - Transplants and Cosmetic Surgery are the stuff of Cadillac Insurance policies? Weird combo/parallel -- and McCain's flailing now. "Senator Government... err, Senator Obama"

10:08 - McCain's got a tuff row to hoe - most answerts lead with attacks and comparatives, he jst can't finesse the number of the things he's got to overcome. I'm guessing the indies are gonna be split again, 60-40. Maybe closer this time but it still seems that he's just not as personable as the other guy.

10:11 - Leadbetter - fair pay for women! BO: "if a woman's trying to raise her family..." Score. JM:" ...Statute of limitations.." "(case a) A trial lawyers dream" Thud.

10:15 "Sexuality is sacred" - a new twist, but works well for the CNN indies

10:16 The last question? 14 mins to go? It's education.

10:19 ; Nice answer by BO, early ed through College: invest better/expect better. JM: Edu is Civ Rights issue of 21st century? okayy.

10:23 : Mcain advisor viewed america's youth as any old interest group. Booo say indies

10:24 - Aaargh, Sarah knows Autism! Uhh, trig is Down Syndrome.

10:27 - "Not enough vouchers, so we shouldn't do it? Heeeeh-snort" Geez, get thee to toastmasters, John.

Final statements...

10:29 - Nice even close from JM. A bit plaintive from Obama - no rhetorical ramp up or tying a bow on the ideas: no headline. The "work tirelessly" bit was tired but I imagine he's trying not to be what Chris Buckley called airy fair. A tie, +7 points because Obama's in front already.

Mcain brought his game, but too late. (last debate I mean) This one was best and closest I bet.