2234 : Thanks for hanging with me on this live blog, don't forget to come back here on October 15th for the final debate

2234 : It's over, handshakes cheering. Each one of them can now go home and declare victory

2233 : Well, I dont :)

2233 : If I had to grade it...

2232 : JM segues better into his stump speech. Apparently this is the last question, so maybe Obama HAD to give his stump speech.

2231 : He is essentially doing a "Palin"..giving a stump speech

2230 : Obama is ending on a weak note..seriously, brings up 'single mom'

2229 : Q: Waht don't you know, and how will you learn it?

2227 : I think the server clock is off by 2 minutes..there is only one minute left

2227 : Obama says military options cannot be taken off the table, but we must use all the tools at our disposal to make sure we don't need to do it

2226 : Says Isreal must be defended..we cannot allow a second holocaust

2225 : JM says Obama wants to negotiate with Iran..again, huh?

2224 : Q: Would you be willing to commit troops to defend Isreal?

2223 : 2 more questions

2222 : Good luck getting a yes or no from a politician

2222 : Q: Russia is an eveil empire, yes or no?

2221 : That should be enough though, his job right now is to "run out the clock"

2221 : at best Obama can hope for a tie on this particular question

2219 : JM waxing lyrical..good for him, no attacks on Obama

2218 : Q: How do you pressure Russia without starting another cold war?

2217 : Jeez General Patreaus again? McCain needs to tell us something new

2216 : Obama sounds a little unprepared for this one...I may be wrong

2215 : Q: How do you re-organize Afghan strategy?

2215 : Foreign policy is supposed to be his strong suit, what is he doing?

2214 : JM is at sea right now..his campaign could be over in 15 minutes

2213 : Obama may need to go easy on the attacks..he brings up "bomb , bomb Iran"

2211 : I don't think JM has a sense for the moment, he is talking about General Patreaus and Iraq..I say huh?

2209 : Now says if we have Osama in our sights, he does not care what Pakistan says

2209 : Says we cannot cuddle a dictator...must encourage democracy in Pakistan

2208 : Obama is trying to slide around this one..

2208 : This is a tough one..there is no right answer

2208 : Q : Should the US respect Pakistani sovereignty by not pursuing terrorists into their country?

2207 : Obama has not taken a hit on foreign policy yet with 20 minutes to go. JM needs to come up with something

2206 : JM agrees on the humanitarian thing, but tries to say he is the only one with the experience to figure out when the right time is

2204 : JM goes back to Iraq...not wise

2204 : Obama says we should use our troops for humanitarian reasons as well as National security

2202 : Ties JM and Bush again

2201 : Obama says JM is responsible for all the money we are spending in Iraq

2200 : He says Obama does not understand..we have no time for on the job training

2159 : JM is waxing lyrical on how he has the judgement on National security

2158 : I expect Obama to play defense for the next 30 minutes

2158 : Q: How will the bad economy affect our power outside this country?

2158 : Foreign policy next..JM must be relieved

2157 : I expect JM to go even more negative shortly

2156 : Obama is on fire here..

2155 : Obama says healthcare is a right, JM says it is a responsibility

2152 : JM says he does not want government to be involved.. except to give everyone a $5,000 tax credit to go purchase a health plan themselves

2150 : This is a topic Obama will win on anyday of the week, so I'm eager to hear JM's response

2149 : Obama says we have a moral commitment to do something about the healthcare crisis

2148 : Q: Do you believe health care should be treated as a commodity?

2148 : JM says he voted against a Bush/Cheney bill..refers to Obama as "that one", also says we have to drill offshore and we have to do it now

2147 : Q: Should we fund a big project or several small projects to research alternative energy

2145 : Obama says we should look at JM's record on energy

2143 : At the half way point now..both these men are slick..no ground given on either side

2142 : JM says he disagrees with Bush on this issue

2142 : Question for JM: What would you do to make sure congress moves fast on issues like climate change

2140 : Ok..seems like JM is trying to emphasize hi maverick-city :) he says he's been bi-partisan

2140 : JM says it is not that hard to fix social security

2139 : Ok..we are officially in a fist fight here. Obama says JM will indeed cut taxes for the wealthy

2137 : Obama says we cannot solve ss and medicaid unless we reform tax policies

2137 : Q: would you give congress a time limit to reform social security?

2136 : Brokaw does not let Obama respond

2135 : JM says he is not in support of tax cuts, but wants to double tax credits per child

2134 : JM attacks Obama again...says he does not understand Obama's tax policies

2132 : Obama says we have to start with Washington, both on the spending side and revenue side

2132 : How will you break the habit of too much debt and credit?

2131 : He will double the peace corp, and creat volunteer corp across America

2131 : buy furl efficient cars, use less energy at home etc

2130 : Everyone has to think about how we use oil

2129 : Obama starts by talking about 9/11 and how we all came together then

2128 : JM says he will recommend a spending freeze, and some programs will not grow

2127 : Q from the internet: What sacrifices will you ask every american to make to help restore the nation?

2126 : attacks JM on tax cuts for big corporation..ties him to Bush again

2125 : He gets specific about alternative energy, draws parallels with JFK's moon plan

2124 : Obama says we have to prioritize..energy has to be up there

2124 : He's talking about energy...sounds a bit like Palin

2123 : JM says everything? says he will cut benefits for retirees..he reaches across the aisle

2122 : Q: What are our priorities?

2122 : Now he is kindda answering the question

2121 : Arghh , here comes the "pork barrel"

2121 : JM is still attacking Obama instead of answering the question

2119 : JM says the system in washington is broken

2119 : Obama says he will cut spending overall

2118 : Says McCain helped Bush along the way

2118 : Obama is puttting this one squarely on Bush

2117 : How can we trust either of you with our money when both parties got us into this mess? Obama first

2117 : Next Question

2117 : JM is praising the "American Worker"

2116 : Neither one wants to admit that the economy will get worse before it gets better, even though it will

2115 : I feel that whoever goes first on these questions is at a disadvantage

2114 : He says JM's campaign is full of Fannie Mae lobbyists

2113 : Obama says JM is a deregulator..says he warned about this 2 years ago

2112 : Obama explains the rescue package...Jm dodged the actual question

2112 : Too bad for JM he went first on this one..I sense a strong counter punch coming

2111 : I guess the fireworks have started

2111 : He's attacking Obama, says it was him and his cronies at Fannie Mae that caused the whole thing

2110 : JM says he suspended his campaign to go solve the economic crisis

2110 : How is the bailout going to help people out?

2110 : Next question..JM goes first

2109 : Obama says Warren Buffet would be a pretty good choice..I think his central theme tonight is that you can't just help the rich and forget the middle class tax cut

2108 : He's reeling off names of people who are "good people"

2107 : JM is trying to dodge the question

2107 : Q:Who do you have in mind to appoint treasury sec?

2106 : If Home values are not stable we cannot create jobs

2106 : JM says he will buy up bad mortgages from people directly

2105 : He says not to raise taxes on anyone, but cut spending

2105 : JM's turn

2104 : The middle class needs a rescue package..tax cuts, mortgage rescue help

2104 : Step one was the economic package that was passed last week

2103 : Obama says this is the final verdict on Bush's failed economic policies

2103 : Alan Shaefer: What is the fastest most effective way to bail people out of this economic mess?

2102 : Obama will begin tonight

2102 : Now for question number 1

2101 : The candidates are gettng introduced

2101 : Almost like a boxing ref reading the rules

2101 : And we are off...Tom Brokaw is jawing away

2059 : All the pundits have talked so much about this debate that I'm personally confused... I'll try not to confuse you guys :)

2057 : I wonder where Gallup found 80 truly undecided Americans

2054 : 5 minutes to go, it feels as if this debate is going to be the most important of them all