Last night was the third and final presidential debate. From the Huffington Post:
The results over at CBS show Obama to have scored the biggest victory to date: “Fifty-three percent of the uncommitted voters surveyed identified Democratic nominee Barack Obama as the winner of tonight’s debate. Twenty-two percent said Republican rival John McCain won. Twenty-four percent saw the debate as a draw.”
It is, the site writes, “a clean sweep” for the Illinois Democrat.
Over at CNN, a separate poll of several hundred debate watchers again favored the Democrat by large margins: 58 percent for Obama to McCain’s 31 percent. Perhaps more importantly, McCain’s favorable rating dropped 51 to 49 while his unfavorable rating increased from 45 percent to 49 percent. Obama ended up with 66 percent favorable rating.
Digging into the details the news is even worse for the Arizona Republican.
Asked who “expressed his views more clearly” 66 percent said Obama, 25 percent said McCain.
“Who spent their time attacking his opponent:” 80 percent said McCain, seven percent said Obama. “Who seemed to be the stronger leader:” 56 percent for Obama, 39 percent for McCain. And who was “more likeable:” 70 percent for Obama to McCain’s 22 percent.
Clean sweep, for Obama. McCain was out of control … clearly nervous … grasping for anything that he could “beat” Obama at. Obama was at his best: clear, articulate, and above the muck and mire of John McCain’s petty attacks. It was inspiring to watch Senator Obama consistently take the high road during last night’s debate, even when clearly presented with the opportunity not to (especially when asked if he thought Sarah Palin was ready to be President, to which he responded, “we’ll let the American people decide that.”)
Obama FTW.
