Live Blogging John McCain vs. Barack Obama #3

Live blogging of tonight’s third and final 2008 Presidential debate between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain. The debate will get started at 9:00pm EST and will be moderated by Bob Schieffer from Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York.

(Refresh Often for Updates)

10:30pm - The most lively debate so far. McCain landed a good bit of punches early on. Obama got into his talking points half way through the debate and was able to find a zone that seemed to do the same to McCain. Joe ‘The Plumber’ Wurzelbacher was a big star. He was mentioned initially by McCain and then Obama several times as well. Again the best debate so far. I think McCain won the first half and the second half was probably a draw with Obama maybe winning by a nose at the finish for the second half. Overall McCain’s best performance and Obama gave the same performance he has in all three debates which is mostly his talking points we are all well familiar with by now.

10:29pm - Obama’s closing statement: Worst economic crisis since the Great Depression….same polices of the last eight years…fundamental change…..brighter days still ahead….have to invest in the American people again….it’s not going to be easy or quick……convinced we can do…ask for your vote…..thank you very much!

10:27pm - McCain’s closing statement: America needs a new direction….I have a record of reform…..health care affordable for all…..quit the spending……examine my record and proposals for the future of this country….I would be honored and humbled to be your President.

10:23pm - McCain uses DC as example of where vouchers have worked. He says spending more money is not always the answer. That a lot of things need to be looked at and fixed. I agree! Most public schools are good at one thing and that is wasting money. Basically McCain is in favor of vouchers and Obama is against them.

10:17pm - Question: U.S. spends most on education but trails most countries in the world. Do you feel this threatens national security? Obama says it will take more money and reform to fix the U.S. school systems. Barack says college has to be affordable. He goes on to say that it is dependent upon parents as well. McCain says education is the civil rights issue of the 21st century. McCain says there must be choice and competition and that this has been proven in New Orleans and NYC with charter schools. He believes charter schools arent the only solution. Barack thinks the federal govt should become more involved with the public schools. Barack says he agrees with McCain on charter schools and booting bad teachers.

10:06pm - Roe v. Wade (abortion): McCain says he has never had a litmus test on who should be on the Supreme Court. He believes the issue of abortion should belong to the states not the government. He believes nominees should be nominated to the SC based on their merit not a litmus test. McCain believes a strict interpretation of the constitution. Obama agrees there should not be a litmus test. Obama believes Roe v. Wade was rightly decided and abortion is a moral issue.

10:03pm - Barack again comes across knowing the most about health care. I am not sure who to believe here, but I don’t trust the government with anything much less my health care. Barack responds by repeating his plan.

9:57pm - Health care premium freeze? Barack says this is the most important. Barack looks straight into the camera and goes into his health care talking points. He says with his plan you can keep your doctors and will pay less. If you don’t have health insurance then you can buy into the same federal pool that Obama and McCain use since they are Senators. If you want more about this then read my last two live blogs. It’s verbatim. McCain says health care records should be put on like the VA. He says there should be physical fitness and nutrition programs in the schools. McCain is basically reporting his same health care points as well. He does bring up Joe the Plumber again. Obama claims there will be no fines for not having insurance.

9:51pm - McCain says Obama is so smooth you have to look closely at his words and that we can drill now offshore…not just “look closely at it.”

9:47pm - How much can foreign oil imports be reduced in first term? McCain says we have to reduce imports not just from Middle East but from Venezuela as well. McCain says in 7-10 years. Obama says in 10 years we can have it where we no longer import oil from the Middle East. Obama 1. Expand domestic production, 2. well he never got to any more points I noticed. He mentioned the automobile industry.

9:42pm - Next: Why is your running mate better than the others? Obama says Joe Biden is one of the most Patriotic and respected Americans. He mentions Joe’s Violence Against Women’s act. He believes Biden will make a great President. McCain says that Sarah Palin is a reformer and mover. She gave money back to the tax payers of Alaska. McCain calls Palin “a breath of fresh air,” and will do so much for special needs kids. McCain goes on to say that Biden has been wrong time and time again on foreign policy.

9:39pm - This debate is almost too entertaining to blog. McCain fires back that Ayers and Obama gave $230,000 to ACORN and started his political career in Ayers living room.

9:36pm - Barack finally answers about Bill Ayers. Obama says Ayers is a professor. Barack again says he was 8 years old when Ayers bombed the Capital and Pentagon. Barack says he will not accept advice from Ayers. He then addresses ACORN and says he is not involved with them. He only says he represented them 10+ years ago.

9:25pm - The next question is about the nasty ads and campaigns so far. Wow! McCain just unleashed one of the best things I have ever heard. He just went off on Obama for lying about accepting public campaign financing. He brought up Congressman John Lewis and the nasty words Lewis used to compare McCain to George Wallace. Obama basically says thats part of the game and brings up economics once again. He claims McCain went negative to change the topic off the economy. McCain is mad but he is funneling it into great lines. McCain again points out that Obama didn’t apologize for Lewis’ words. McCain continues to hammer at Barack and Barack continues to not repudiate Lewis’ remarks. Obama goes straight back into his talking points.

9:18pm - McCain responds to Barack’s Bush comparison by saying he is not Bush and if he wanted to run against Bush he should have run four years ago. Barack responds by comparing McCain to Bush once again. Barack has been knocked a bit off balance so far by McCain. McCain responds with about 10 instances of his fighting against the Republican party.

9:14pm - The next question is about the federal deficit and how each candidates plans will add $200 billion to the deficit. Won’t some things have to be trimmed/eliminated? Barack says he is pledging to pay as he goes with his programs. Isn’t that what those cheap pay cell phones at Target are like? McCain so far has skirted the answer and responded about going energy independent. McCain says he would have a spending freeze which is a hatchet then he would get out a scapel. McCain says he would fight for a line item veto. Obama responds that he is against a spending freeze and a scapel is needed.

9:10pm - McCain fires right back with Joe the Plumber and how Barack wants to ’spread the wealth around.’ McCain says he wants Joe to spread the wealth around not Barack (govt.). Barack again goes into 95% of people getting tax cut. McCain is sharp so far tonight. Hopefully he has a couple of Red Bulls ready.

9:05pm - McCain responds to Obama by bringing up Joe the Plumber and his question to Barack yesterday where Barack answered he planned to redistribute wealth. Barack responds with his talking points and that 95% will get a tax cut (again 95% don’t pay taxes). Barack claims 98% of small businesses make less than $250k.

9:00pm EST - And here we go! Moderator Bob Schieffer is telling us the rules for tonight’s showdown. Both men have entered the stage. The first question is about each man’s new financial proposals this week. McCain is big on helping home owner’s out. And my connection goes out. Looks like I am going to have to wrestle this internet again tonight.

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October 15, 2008 | Filed Under 2008 Presidential Election, barack obama, john mccain