The 2008 Presidential Debates have had an enormous effect on the public perception of the two presidential candidates, Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama.
The University of Mississippi at Oxford was the site of the first presidential debate on Sept. 26, moderated by PBS's Jim Lehrer.
The issues that had been selected for discussion were foreign policy and national security, but the debate was primarily dominated by issues regarding the worldwide financial crisis. Why should the financial crisis be such an important issue when choosing a president, especially when we consider that our most recent presidents have dealt with more international issues than anything else it seems?
"When the US catches an economic cold, it often means pneumonia in other countries...particularly developing countries," said Robert McNamara, Political Science professor. "For some countries, economic instability can lead to political instability. Should the US be concerned about this when looking at political realities in strategically important countries like Pakistan--- or China (whose GDP is closely linked to trade with the US)? I think so."
Eventually, discussion shifted to the looming bailout plan and candidates' ideas for righting the state of the nation's financial institutions.
One of the most contentious questions was regarding each candidate would cut in response to trying to save money in the face of the $700 billion bailout
package.
McCain proposed an across the board spending freeze on everything except for defense, veterans' affairs and entitlement programs.
This was met with sharp criticism from Obama, who mentioned cutting back on our need for foreign oil and that a spending freeze was too extreme.
"The problem with a spending freeze is you're using a hatchet where you need a scalpel," said Obama.
After more economic discussion the topics shifted to Middle East policy, Afghanistan and Pakistan specifically. McCain chastised Obama for never having visited Afghanistan and the Waziristan region of Pakistan, Al Qaeda strongholds that McCain has toured.
Both candidates then discussed Iran, Iraq and the possibility of the former becoming a nuclear power. Both agreed that a nuclear Iran would be intolerable, but differed on the Iraq war, with McCain espousing the belief that total victory there is crucial to the success of the war in Afghanistan and the elimination of Al Qaeda while Obama maintained that the Iraq war drew focus from important issues, such as China and the one trillion dollar debt we now owe them.
The second debate, a town hall style affair with questions selected from undecided voters by moderator Tom Brokaw, took place Oct. 7 at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.
On the agenda for discussion were domestic and foreign policy issues. However, the economy dictated the ways in which these issues were discussed.
An early question involved who would replace Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson, who has said he will resign at the end of the Bush administration.
McCain suggested Meg Whitman, former Ebay CEO and billionaire continually listed as one of the world's most influential people. Obama mentioned Warren Buffett, the Berkshire-Hathaway investment genius and the reported richest man in the world for the first half of 2008, also an enthusiastic supporter of the Democrat's campaign.
In the face of varied questions, Brokaw often wrestled with the candidates to adhere to the rules that had been set in advance.
At one point Brokaw even stopped to re-educate the candidates of the meanings of the green, yellow and red lights surrounding his podium and that they must stop running over their allotted time.
Health care also emerged as one of the core concerns of the night. McCain rehashed his plan to give every American a $5,000 tax credit along with allowing health insurance to be purchased in any state, not just the one you reside in, as current law mandates.
Obama detailed his plan to reduce costs for people satisfied with their current plan but also to offer a government plan like the one he and McCain use, with a vast pool of subscribers said to reduce costs.
The final debate was held at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York on Oct. 15. Moderator Bob Schieffer of CBS News put forth questions on the subject of domestic policy.
Economic policy stole the show once again, but so did a Republican whose name is not McCain or Palin, it's Joe 'The Plumber' Wurzelbacher. Wurzelbacher, an Ohioan, confronted Obama on the campaign trail with a question about his taxes that could prove damaging.
McCain brought up the fact that Wurzelbacher was looking to buy the business he'd worked at for a number of years. He alleged that under Obama's tax plan Wurzelbacher would not be able to purchase the business because he'd be moved into a higher tax bracket, something McCain decried as the destruction of the American dream.
Through the course of the debate 'Joe the Plumber' was mentioned in one form or another 26 times, overwhelmingly by McCain to criticize Obama's tax plan as socialist and unfair to those who have worked to attain their economic status.
Though Wurzelbacher has now drawn national media attention, some view him a little more than a political tool.
"[Wurzelbacher is] just a distraction, [McCain] is running out of ways to go against Obama, and isn't relating to what's important," said Tasba Aleman, a Human Development major.
Obama defended his tax plan by reiterating its tax cuts for 95 percent of Americans and only raising taxes on those who make more than $250,000 per year. He also pointed out that 98 percent of small businesses make less than $250,00 annually.
The debate season has been one full of twists and turns, with Obama leading in the perception polls on who won the debates. However, McCain has made some poignant examples and refusing to abandon his self-described maverick style.
By the end of the debates many voters have decided upon the candidate they believe is best, with some believing the opposite side represents a dire step in the wrong direction.
"I wouldn't believe that guy [McCain] if he said water was wet," said Michelle Salvail, English M.A. student.
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