The most significant thing about tonight’s debate between Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain - McCains vain attempts to try to use Obama’s own words to confuse voters. But more about that later; most significant now is - did this debate make a difference or change a course for the next four weeks before election day? Nope, not at all.

What the candidates did right.

First, McCain controlled his facial expressions better during this debate. He was able to come across more naturally in a format that he is very comfortable with and seems to enjoy. That doesn’t mean it always came across well for McCain, but at least it was a far better showing than the last debate.

As for Obama, it took him the first answer or two to warm up, but once he did he showed a marvelous presence, over the materials, with the audience, and in many ways came across as far more “aggressive” (in a positive way) that I think his supporters had been looking for from him.

What did the candidates do wrong.

Both candidates disappointed me with the political BS of “the fundamental difference between us is…”. The reality - I didn’t feel connected to that statement, and every time one of them said it I was sure another fluffy bunny Palin-esque comment was going to come out of their mouths. For the most part, that’s exactly what happened.

For Obama specifically, he really needs to watch the “and….” statements he makes. Toward the end of the debate I was starting to wonder why he needed the “and” prop, at best, and at worst, “why is it taking so long to get to the point?”

But what was worse for me was McCain and his “my friend”. I cannot tell you HOW annoying this became by the end of the debate. It was obviously thrown in there at every possible moment to try to “connect” with the audience, but all I kept thinking was “you live in 7+ mansions, have millions in a bank account somewhere, and never have to worry for a moment that you’ll have a roof over your head, or food on the table? And you want me to believe that YOU would be my friend?” Please! It was pathetic.

And second, McCain referred to Obama as “that one” (even pointing his finger accusatorily in Obama’s direction) when speaking about energy policy. It was clearly so blatantly disrespectful that it will likely be the talk of the debate for some time. I don’t think he’ll live it down very easily anyway.

As for strategy, I have to give some points to McCain for tactical moves that were intended to derail the debate and try to move it his favor (though I don’t think they were completely successful).

When you don’t have answers to economic issues that people like to hear, what do you do? For McCain tonight, you spout the SAME words your opponent said in a way that makes it very unclear who said what. I saw three examples where he did this.

1) nuclear energy - Obama has been expressing his support for nuclear energy for weeks, but tonight, just after Obama speaks, McCain expresses his views on nuclear energy then gives the impression that somehow Obama isn’t for it? Wow, extraordinary.

2) The environment. Clearly Republicans have never been known as friends of the environment, but tonight McCain purposefully repeats Obama’s words on the environmental crisis, sometimes nearly word for word!

3) When speaking about insurance and taxes, Obama has stated again and again that “95% of Americans will receive a tax break”. What does McCain do, he says something to the effect of “95% of insurance holders will get a break on their insurance” or something of that nature. The point is, it was pretty obvious that the 95% number was intentionally designed to derail the effect that Obama’s campaign has had with the electorate.

Clearly the strategy award (if not having your own strategy but trying to derail your opponent’s can be considered winning strategy) goes to Mr. McCain.

Overall though here were my thoughts on how the two candidates performed this evening. McCain came across as old. Rugged, experienced, yes, but, old, as in “old policies, old ways of thinking, and old ideas”. He hobbled around the room, antsy about something it seemed as he could never sit still. His voice was hollow and brittle, and his ingratiating smile made me wince on more than one occasion.

Obama was successful at showing a new way of seeing the problems we face, from a new perspective that might have been lacking in detail, but was very strong on presentation. He interacted with the audience okay, but I thought it could have been better. And he does have this “hesitancy” about him that, in reality, should be an asset for any president, but in presentation, probably lacks some luster.

Most of the debate responses were so chocked full of fluff and nothingness that it is difficult to see how it could have moved voters in any way or the other. My assessment of the events were that it won’t change anything. Going into the last stretch of this election, McCain clearly needed to distance himself from Obama in a way that really resonated with voters, and I don’t think he achieved that. He may have kept his base happy, but I doubt many of the undecideds out there will truly believe that he is going to be the one to lead this country for positive change in the future.

Finally though, no matter how much more comfortable McCain was in front of a “town hall” setting like tonight’s debate, it was Barack Obama who stayed well after the event talking with the audience. He was standing for photos with them and he and his wife were answering questions. Where did McCain go? That’s a question maybe voters should ask next time they see “their friend” McCain.

Who won the debate? From where I sat, watching the candidate’s discussions and the real time responses from the undecided voters in Ohio on CNN, Obama won clearly, but not by the wide margin I had hoped for before the debate.