Sharp contrasts evident in last debate

Obama and McCain went at it hammer and tongs in the last presidential debate of the 2008 campaign, drawing sharp contrasts for anyone who cared enough to actually pay attention and listen. The two differed dramatically on abortion, vouchers, taxes and a plethora of other issues.

But for John McCain, it was the same problem as the other two debates: no major mistakes were made, neither candidate made any major gaffes and neither scored any major, obvious debating points over the other. That means the liberal media will declare Obama the winner and McCain will have lost one of his last big opportunities to break through in the election.

McCain tried valiantly to differentiate himself from President Bush and his policies. It is quesionable if he did it strongly enough, decisively enough, to establish himself as a true maverick in the public's mind.

The debate never really got around to McCain's strong points: experience and fighting terrorism. McCain set forth his economic recovery plan, but it was belittled by Obama, and that's what the media will report.

McCain failed to make the dramatic, master stroke, game changing breakthrough.

We can only hope its not too late, and that events will provide him another chance. He's risen from the dead at least twice in this present campaign, and with 21 days to go, he still needs one more miracle.