Obama calm; McCain full of energy

More of the same?

Webb: This was a more interesting and substantive debate with better questions from the moderator and a format allowing the candidates to spar and counterpunch. The candidates addressed topics not discussed previously, including abortion, education and Obama's past associations.

Pignanelli: The extraterrestrial aliens that abducted John McCain last month — and replaced him with a bumbling humanlike creature — returned the Arizona senator to Earth last night. Finally, McCain gave a performance that matched his senatorial career: energetic, pugnacious, and on the offensive. For the first time in the debates, there were moments when Obama was on the ropes and needed to collect himself to mount a defense. The 90-minute contest was fun to watch and went by fast (a big difference from the other two).

Obama's strengths and weaknesses?

Pignanelli: Despite a new debate demeanor possessing McCain, Obama remained calm and self-assured. He responded to every challenge, while smiling and laughing. But along with McCain, he was unable to craft an adequate response on tackling the budget deficit.

Webb: As usual, Obama was cool and mostly unruffled. He is articulate and recited nearly perfectly his campaign talking points. His weakness is that he is one of the most liberal politicians in America and views government as the solution to every problem. He knows he's ahead in the polls so he mostly played defense and tried to sit on his lead.

McCain's?

Webb: This was McCain's best debate. He was clearly more aggressive and drew sharp differences between himself and Obama, not only on specific policy positions, but also on their philosophical approaches to government. He went on the attack but did not cross the line into meanness or personal disparagement. McCain's weakness is that, by all measures, this is an overwhelming Democratic year. He's fighting a tide almost impossible to overcome.

Pignanelli: McCain's best moment was expressing sorrow and resentment towards Obama supporters who compared McCain to racial segregationists. McCain remains unable to smile or convey body language that is positive and attractive to voters.

The undecided voters

Pignanelli: Any undecided voters watching the debates will likely drift to Obama.