This is what will happen the second the debate ends.

Most pundits will say McCain didn't get the knockout blow he had hoped for. It was a boring and cordial debate, with little flare. Matthews will ask why McCain looked subdued, as if he's already resigned himself to losing, while Pat Buchanan will say McCain won on points, but agrees, he didn't do enough to dramatically shift the polls.

On CBS, Katie will interview her group of undecideds, which will say they liked the specifics of Obama, but in the end they won't be swayed.

Then Katie will read CBS' flash poll showing Obama won the debate 52-39.

On CNN, the Republican talking heads are trying their hardest to spin the debate in favor of McCain, but they too admit he didn't change much of anything. CNN's flash poll shows Obama winning the debate 55-35.

Back on MSNBC, Matthews' show is ending and Olbermann starts, discussing the newly released CBS and CNN poll that show Obama has won. They go back to Buchanan, who declares that obviously the people thought Obama won, so he won.

On FOX, well, they're calling it a homerun for John McCain. But back on earth, everyone knows it's officially over for John S. McCain.

"McCain attempted again and again rattle Obama on character issues, but the Democratic challenger remained unflappable and stayed on message."

Good analysis but you left out the part where Pat's hair catches fire.

or will he hide his face and run out of the room like last time?

a big success, ole john opened a big ole can of whupass.

Funny, that fox will be televising a baseball game tonight which most likely will get more viewers (maybe.)

Stephy and Gibson knock themselves out trying to find something non-partisan to say and end up saying nothing interesting at all. Cokie bores herself so much she falls backward out of her chair.

Brokaw does a poor job of summing up the debate and Russert is again sorely missed. The best comments on CNN come from Paul Begala, and from Rachael Maddow on MSNBC.

The big chat topic on the cable nets is the Ayers thing--how McLame brought it up with a cutesy quip, and how Obama made mincemeat out of it. Biden is asked to comment and he again says McCain will regret this for a long time. Palin will be unavailable for comment but is seen once again at a bar chugging beers.

:patriot:

We're missing the day-early "McCain/Palin Win the Debate!" ads! They have to be floating around somewhere!!

The pundits are saying McCain didn't get the knock out blow. It wasn't a boring debate, but Pat Buchanan did say McCain won on points, but then mentioned the polls would show Obama won.

So Obama won!

And then my CBS numbers were 52-39, the real CBS poll numbers were 53-22-24

Then my CNN poll projection was 55-35 and it was actually 58-31!

Wow, pretty close! :D