10 seconds ago 2009-12-04T06:05:04-08:00
With most polls showing Sen. Barack Obama leading nationally and in key battleground states, Sen. John McCain was looking to change the direction of the race. His debate performance will undoubtedly be a key part of his "comeback" strategy. Obama's goal for tonight: "Do no harm."
The third and final presidential debate, which focused on the economy and other domestic issues, took place at Hofstra University in New York. The two candidates were seated together at a table with CBS News anchor Bob Schieffer, the debate moderator. After numerous complaints about the lack of follow-up questions allowed at the second town-hall debate, Shieffer was given more latitude to ask follow-up questions.
Schieffer opened by asking both candidates, "Let's try to tell the people some things that they haven't heard." He then asked his first question, predictably focusing on fixes for the current economic crisis.
“Why is your economic plan better than your opponent's?”
McCain jumped right in on what Americans are going through. “They’re hurting, they're angry. They're innocent victims of the greed on Wall Street.” He said there would be short-term fixes and long-term fixes, but his first order of business would be reversing the continuing decline in home ownership.
Obama focused his answer on the middle class, saying "What we haven't yet seen is a rescue package for the middle class." He went on to specify some key points of his plan: "End tax breaks for firms shipping jobs overseas...help families with a middle-class tax cut...and let homeowners renegotiate mortgages."
"I am not President Bush"
The second question touched on which programs would have to be cut due to the candidates’ economic plans. Obama hit McCain for voting for Bush's tax proposals. McCain fired back: “I am not President Bush. If you wanted to run against President Bush, you should've run four years ago.” McCain then added that he could balance the budget in his first term.
On the attack
Schieffer raised the issue of how the campaign had turned negative, providing an opportunity for McCain to bring up Obama's ties to '60s radical William Ayers. But McCain, surprisingly, didn't bite. Instead, he expressed disappointment in Obama's refusal to do joint town halls, and his campaign's negative ads.
Obama responded by knocking Gov. Sarah Palin for ignoring the "terrorist" yells at rallies. Obama then took on his ties to Ayers himself: “Mr. Ayers is not involved in my campaign. He has never been involved in my campaign. And he won't advise me in the White House.” He then turned to the ACORN voter registration controversy, saying his campaign had nothing to do with ACORN.
Biden vs. Palin
After rare mentions in previous debates, the talk finally turned to running mates. Schieffer asked, “Why would the country be better off if your running mate became president rather than your opponent's?”Obama said, “Biden has some of the best foreign-policy credentials of anybody.” He talked about how Biden never forgot his working-class roots, and how his running mate has a history of “fighting for the little guy.”
About Palin, McCain said, “Americans have gotten to know Sarah Palin…they know she's a role model to women and a reformer.” He called her a much-needed “breath of fresh air.” McCain added that he respects Obama’s running mate, but Biden had been wrong on numerous issues.
The abortion issue
The debate turns to Roe v. Wade and how it would affect choosing nominees for the Supreme Court.McCain said, "I'm a federalist. I think the decision should lie with the states." He explained how he would choose a Supreme Court justice: “Nominees should be chosen for their qualifications, not by applying litmus tests.”
Obama replied that agrees that a litmus test should not be the deciding factor for a judicial nominee, but said that abortion is a moral issue. "I believe that Roe v. Wade was rightly decided.” In regards to abortion: "Women...are in the best position to make this decision. I will look for judges with an outstanding judicial record.”
It’s all about Joe
In the end, this debate was all about Joe the Plumber. Joe is an Ohioan who was worried about Obama’s tax plan moving him into a new bracket. McCain brought up Joe’s story repeatedly — through taxes, the economy, health care. Both candidates often looked at the camera, saying they thought they could help Joe, and would be happy to discuss their plans further with him.
Schieffer ended on a positive note, telling voters what his mother always told him: "Vote now. It will make you big and strong."
