It's 11 EDT and his speech is still rambling on. He seems very off and not in rhythm at all. Are the continued "USA" chants to cover up other protesters? Even the "stand up and fight" refrain over the cheers of the crowd seems forced and low energy. He looks so old and sad tonight. Can you imagine how this speech would look side by side with Obama's acceptance? And how they are going to look side by side on the debate stage? The choice is so clear now - tired, old, politics that are still trapped in Vietnam or a passionate, dynamic wave of change that is personified in Obama, but represented in the now hundreds of thousands who have seen him speak on the campaign trail.

Much of the on-line print MSM coverage I've read of the speech mentions that it was a "low energy" speech. There is also the obligatory mention of "the oldest pres. at inaug" -- 72 years old. I wonder why they can't connect the two? I was struck by how not only did he have trouble reading the teleprompter at times, but his overall timing was quite off. Even in moments where he should have been emphatic - like the "fight" litany when the crowd was cheering - it seemed like he couldn't summon up the energy to meet or surpass the tepid cheers from the crowd. After the speech, he seemed pained and even a bit dazed as he wandered around the stage waving.

His low level of energy IS an issue as it is a sign of his overall physical and mental health. And it's a huge issue as the "I have more foreign policy experience than Sara Palin" (see the growing Facebook group) second in command is a rookie in everthing national or international - except in securing federal earmarks and living close to Russia.

It's clear we're seeing a pattern of how McCain is flubbing lines, getting confused, and generally out of it often on the trail. Why is it so politically incorrect to say that, as a condition of his age and the demands of the presidency, that he isn't qualified for this job at this time. Every job in the world has physical, mental, and overall health requirements. While one cannot specifically be denied a position because they are "too old" (although most people are eagerly looking to retire and relax at 65 to 70 years old) they surely can be denied b/c they don't have the health level to meet the job demands.

We have a number of successful Senators who are much older than McCain. Why is it so non-PC to say that he should stay in the Senate where his health limitations due to age aren't an issue and conversely that he isn't qualified to be president which is arguably one of the most demanding jobs in the world.

Of course if McCain is elected, inaugurated, and can't serve(even temporarily) Palin is confident that she's ready and qualified to step in because you can see Russia from Alaska.

On Sunday the Columbus Dispatch (and presumably other newspapers) put out their first joint poll. It's found at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/09/21/OHIOPOLL21.ART_ART_09-21-08_A1_HDBCHUM.html?sid=101.

It has McCain ahead. But it came out before the meltdown on Wall Street last week. The polls now out elsewhere in the state after this event are telling a different story. I too look forward to seeing an updated Ohio poll.

I've been knocking on doors for Obama in my center to conservative town near Columbus. The doors are vetted by voter history, so I don't knock on hard core Republicans.

The moderates/independents I'm speaking with are quite positive for Obama. They know this is a vital election and are planning on getting everyone they know out to vote. The Obama campaign is well organized with lots of volunteers. I am hopeful that these numbers and this energy will turn this state blue.

There are scenarios where Obama wins w/o Ohio. But not many scenarios where McCain wins without it. We want to win here, so that the news calls the election on Nov 4th as soon as it becomes clear that Ohio is Obama's.

I was initially distracted enough by the CNN real-time colored lines graphing the responses of D's, R's and I's to consider changing channels.

I'm glad I stuck with it to see the only significant rise in all three lines in the whole debate.

It was near the end when Obama was talking about the importance of improving the US's standing in the world. All three lines nearly hit the top of the graph and stayed there during the duration of that point.

They fell and stayed flat when McCain ducked the question of "do you think the US's standing has fallen?"

I hope that Obama's advisers saw this b/c it seemed like it greatly and postively resonated with all three groups.

I also heard hints of Obama positioning himself as the candidate with 21st Century thinking and by contrast that McCain is stuck in the 20th (right around 1971 or so). I think he needs to push this more as it will allow him to pull together many themes about the clear needs for leadership in this new century and how he, not his opponent is the one best suited for the presidency.