The Third Time’s Not the Charm for a Combative John McCain in Final Presidential Debate

By: Sean Yoes

In the third and final presidential debate of the 2008 general election, John McCain threw more punches in search of the elusive moment that would change the dynamics of this presidential race that have him sinking in the polls and Barack Obama on the rise.

But, the consensus of most who watched is that none of those punches landed cleanly on Obama, and, most importantly, not many of them connected with the American people.

McCain, losing to his Democratic rival in the most recent national polls from nine to 14 points, went on offense immediately at the debate at Hofstra University in Long Island, New York, attacking Obama throughout the evening on issues ranging from the Illinois Senator’s tax policy to former 60’s radical-turned-college professor Bill Ayers.

Bob Schieffer of CBS News, who moderated the debate on U.S. domestic policy, seemed to give the candidates more leeway to operate, which may have help spark snappier exchanges than the previous presidential debate in Nashville.

But, Obama once again projected what now seems to be a familiar image to the American people: Presidential, prepared, calm, cool and collected.

“That calm, casual, Zen-like confidence is what the American people want during these times,” said MSNBC’s Chris Matthews, host of “Hardball.”

The Third Time’s Not the Charm for a Combative John McCain in Final Presidential Debate....