The first Obama-McCain debate was held late on a Friday–a weird time. Both men did well, but I scored it a narrow win for McCain–he seemed to drive the discussion more. Obama was learned and reasoned in his responses, but never–has never yet–wheeled on McCain and gone from defense to offense in a response. He seems to be the only politician in memory who answers the questioned asked instead of the question he wants to answer. But I thought Obama did what was most necessary for him–he looked presidential; he looked like McCain’s peer; he looked like he was up to the job. Still, I missed stuff Ginny and others picked up on–McCain’s cranky demeanor, and how he never looked at Obama (seeming to confirm reports from last month that McCain simply doesn’t respect Obama as a worthy adversary.) Perhaps that accounts for my final mistakes in evaluation: I thought McCain’s narrow win would mean that the polls would close up a bit. I was wrong. Independents scored the debate 35+ to 25- for Obama, with just about the same number calling it a tie as saying that Obama won. Translation: a shockingly huge win for Obama. His lead widened.