One person's view of the last (thank God!) Presidential debate of this election season.  These aren't in any particular order. 

...It seems remarkable to me that this debate wound up being so much about McCain.  Just a few months ago, this entire election was framed as being all about Obama.  I suppose it says something that the Democrat has apparently passed the leadership test from pundits in that short time. 

...Bob Schieffer made much of this debate about small things.  To that end, he really didn't do McCain any favors at all, as the Republican really needed opportunities to hammer home a strong economic message.  (Apparently, such a message does not exist for him.)

...Obama did appear to have installed Dean Smith's "four corners" offense in this debate - play keepaway, commit no turnovers, and wait for the clock to hit 0:00.  It's not the most exciting way to finish an election

...McCain was able to use a set piece to good effect:  "I'm not President Bush."  Unfortunately, that comes about three months too late.  The GOP strategy of "we'll just not talk about Dubya and hope everyone forgets" should have been junked for a "compare-and-contrast" stump.

...Pat Buchanan (yes, THAT Pat Buchanan) may have had the best observation of the night.  He noted that many undecided voters appear to have rejected the Republican brand already.  Of course, Buchanan used that to dismiss the unanimous snap-polling results.  However, that point really underscores the difficulty of McCain's campaign this year:  hold the right, appeal to the middle, and try to separate himself from the noxious Bush regime while endorsing many of Bush's policies.

...Did McCain really mock the idea that the health of the mother should be a concern in the abortion debate? 

...I think McCain's biggest problem in the last 20 days is that ACORN and Ayers won't be effective talking points except when playing to his base.  Voters appear to have rejected the notion that Obama is dangerous or risky, and McCain does himself no favors by pushing that meme any further.

...Anyone have "Joe the Plumber" in their drinking game?  Didn't think so.

...Joe "The Plumber" Wurzelbacher likes McCain, and isn't shy about it.  Apparently, however, McCain wasn't able to get Joe registered to vote in this year's election, thus making Joe the GOP equivalent of "Obama Girl".  (h/t Politico's Ben Smith)

...Speaking of Joe the Plumber, does he make over $250,000 per year?  Seems unlikely - until I review the plumbing bill I paid to have one faucet installed and one pipe unclogged.  Final price: my first born, my third born, and a nephew to be named later.

...McCain actually seemed pretty sharp and lively for the first 40 minutes.  However, his visceral changes over the last 50 minutes or so were pronounced - and rather ugly.  McCain made some good points during the debate, and actually seemed more comfortable in this format than I thought he'd be. 

...McCain really needed to get himself off the "Grumpy Old Men" schneid.  He really needed to show he could be cool, calm and respectfully disagreeable.  His facial expressions, his repeated interruption of Obama, and his sarcasm were all manifestations of his frustration as he slowly realized Obama wasn't really going to engage him.  The end result was not flattering for the Arizonan.

...Yet another reason why I'll never be a good politician:  I was hoping Obama would skewer Palin when given the opportunity by Schieffer.  It was interesting that Obama took fewer shots at Palin than McCain took at Biden during that question.  Not sure how that will play out.

...Two things that need to happen:  (1) reduce the total number of Presidential debates.  (2) Let the Commission on Presidential Debates set general-election debate format rules without the campaigns' interference.

...I actually laughed at McCain's "Senator Government" reference.  I thought it could well be a fake slip. 

...Did McCain really repeatedly conflate autism with Down's Syndrome?  I don't remember him mentioning Down's when he talked about Trig Palin, but he sure brought up autism a lot.

...Bottom line:  McCain really needed to hit his groove with the voters tonight.  This really was, I felt, his best debate performance of the three.  It still didn't strike electoral gold - in large part because the inevitable visceral comparisons to Obama are just so bad for McCain. 

Now, we go to the home stretch.  Be prepared for the kitchen sink, the compactor, the dishwasher, the refrigerator and the oven over these last 20 days.  I would be stunned if at least one suddenly cash-flush 527 doesn't aggressively pursue lines of attack against Obama that McCain himself won't.  In fact, I suspect McCain's counting on it.