It’s happening now. Other obligations will keep from watching it live. I’ll catch it in about 90 minutes and I’ll post my thoughts here later tonight. For the three of you wondering where I am on Twitter, my apologies.

UPDATE: I wonder how many phone calls Joe the Plumber is going to get today?  Overall, I thought McCain started this debate better than he did the previous two with clear attacks on Obama tax plan.  There are clear differences between the two, but as the debate went on McCain appeared to get more and more frustrated, angry even, and it didn’t help him appear comfortable on television.  Stylistically, he’s proven to be one of the worst debaters of the modern era.

I still don’t understand why McCain keeps coming back to the Ayers issue.  It clearly wasn’t working before the debate, and I’m not sure who told him that it was the best strategy to try and knockout Obama.  I suggested yesterday that there was a chance that McCain would revert to some likeness of his former self.  That didn’t happen.  He’s bought into the idea that going all negative all the time is the only way to win.  Or maybe he’s just mad because his message never caught fire with voters once the economy went south.  Either way, this course won’t lead McCain to victory, and the polls clearly show it.

Obama maintained a steady hand during all three debates.  He sound professorial at times, but his apperances, unlike Kerry and Gore, was steady and confident. It obviously resonated with voters. Instant polls show that Obama did far better.  Among debate viewers Obama won 58% - 31%.  Among uncommitted voters Obama won 53% - 22%.  Additionally, both focus groups on CNN and FOX News showed Obama to be the winner.