With Debate, Candidates Shore Up Political Pitches

The presidential candidates, in their first face-off of the general election race, set the stage for the final 38 days of the presidential race by returning to themes of experience and judgment and practically ensuring the economy will remain front and center through Election Day. Analysts and voters were split over who technically won the tense debate Friday night at the University of Mississippi. Neither Barack Obama nor John McCain committed a major gaffe, and both delivered strong enough performances that each campaign confidently could declare victory. But after a raucous week marked by intense negotiations over economic bailout legislation on Capitol Hill, surprise announcements by McCain and another major bank failure, the candidates treated the debate not as a game changer but as a 90-minute chance to make their cases to American voters. McCain spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker told FOX News Obama revealed his recklessness by stressing his willingness to meet face-to-face with leaders of ... (link)