McCain actually exceeded my expectations, showing more connection with good common sense anti-spending, anti-Washington and foreign policy knowledge that will be popular with many of these voters. He also did two key things in this debate that have not been discussed. First, he batted down the Bush ties early on and that went nowhere. Second, he showed that at 72, he's a pretty sharp cookie. He had a solid answers almost every time and command of the facts.
Many say this election is a referendum on Obama and I largely agree, but it is also a referendum on McCain's ability to do the job at 72. Tonight, he probably earned some support from people that otherwise have been concerned on that issue.
That would be the hope..... I wish I could be sure of that, but I'm not.