Essential

Obama Bores His Way to Victory

Outpoints McCain in Tuesday town hall.

Disagreements over Tuesday night's debate winner seem to be of degree, not of kind, with Obama crowned the victor. The debate was mostly a snooze, but Obama delivered another cool performance, while McCain’s cornpone humor mostly fell flat. Blogger Alex Massie calls it "a no-score draw … And so, because of that, Obama, leading in the polls, won." The New Republic’s Jonathan Chait raves, "I have never seen a stronger performance than the one Obama gave tonight." After being criticized in previous debates for being aloof, Obama ventured into Bill Clinton territory and “constantly invoked the lived experience of Americans," Chait writes. The snap polls were unanimous.