The curtain comes down on another debate

Posted to Live Blog: Second presidential debate by Mary Daly at 10:35 p.m., Oct. 7, 2008

At the conclusion of the debate, viewers from watch parties around Columbia had varying opinions about the results.

At the NAACP watch party, senior Lydia Snowden only showed up to catch the candidates' closing statements.

"Obama completely bombed it," Snowden said. "McCain actually answered the question."

At the same watch party, senior Jonathan Snipes disagreed with Snowden.

"Obama won," Snipes said. "His composure and the way he handled the questions were better. McCain had childlike behavior."

Snipes went on to say all the issues that would allow the country to make an informed decision between candidates were covered.

At the Republican watch party, Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., said as president, McCain would be forceful and take us back to conservatism.

"Obama will take us back to the 1960s era socialism where government runs everything," Bond said.

MU College Republicans member Ryan Remole said he thinks McCain can retake the lead in Missouri.

"It's going to take the American people sort of waking up, so to speak," Remole said.

Remole went on to say McCain related to the public very well in the debate and "just seemed more real" than opponent Obama.

Stephens College student Polly Edelstein, who attended the Democratic watch party, said she felt Obama was the candidate who had a better rapport with the audience.

"I think both candidates did a good job," Edelstein said. "I think Obama is able to more naturally connect with people and doesn't need to put up any false pretenses."

A consensus at all the watch parties was the debate would influence polls in one way or another.