Debate Liveblog

Obama's taking more shots and Lehrer's egging them on. McCain has made two old-person jokes already. Not bad. So far only two Main Street and Wall Street references. McCain believes in the American worker and the United States of America. Great. That'll get us through this mess.

McCain wants to get spending under control in Washington. Republicans came to power to change government and government changed us. I agree with that. First pork barrel reference. What's the over under on pork barrel references v. Main Street references. Oh, second pork barrel reference. He's blaming Obama for pork.

Response? Obama suspended requests for earmarks for his state until it was fixed. McCain is proposing huge tax cuts $300 billion for special interests, where CEOs will get $700,000 in reduced taxes. Hmmm, looks like he blew this one off. I don't know why he didn't mention Palin's request for earmarks in Alaska, which far outstrip the ones he made for Illinois. Advantage McCain on this one. This is his territory.

Now he's riffing on earmarks and Obama's requests for new spending. Obama just cut him off. He's now putting his spin on his own priorities. Eliminating ear marks alone is not a recipe for getting the middle class back on track. He's saying people who are struggling are being neglected. I don't see Obama as very sharp in the early going here.