Time to jolt out a few more observations about last nights debate between Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama.

Like I said before, once the debate entered foreign policy/national security territory, I think McCain was largely in command and Obama largely on the defensive.

Americans, by a wide margin, already consider McCain better qualified to be Commander in Chief. McCain only solidified that impression, and Obama didn't do anything to chip away at it.

Obama seemed competent enough to be Commander-in-Chief during ordinary times. Unfortunately for him, such times we do not live in. He came across as a guy who has been studying national security issues really hard -- especially on all that Afghanistan stuff -- but without really understanding the information he's imbibing.

Some advice for Obama: admit you were wrong abut the Surge. Americans are glad it worked. They are glad we are winning in Iraq, and they don't want to toss away that away now that vicotry is in sight. His refusal to admit that glaring error in judgment undermines one of his central claims that he's qualified to bbe President: that he has fabulous judgment.
I wish McCain had hit Obama even harder on the Surge, since he won't get a similar chance like last night. he could have said, "I understand Sen. Obama opposing the Surge in order to placate the left-wing that dominates the Democratic party nominating process.  But Sen. Obama contineud to oppose the Surge even after it was clear it was working and reducing American casualties. What does it say about Sen. Obabam's judgment that he'd rather placate his party's left-wing base than admit to an error and support a policy that is winning this war?"

After last night, undecided and swing voters don't have to stretch to see John McCain as the Commander-in-Chief. After last night's debate, they still have to stretch to see Barack Obama in that role.

To the extent the election turns on national security and foreign policy, that hurts Obama and helps McCain.

Then there were the less tangible moments that can add it to a cumulative impression as voters re-run the debate in their minds and during conversation. Obama usually give new meaning to the word "smooth," so I was surprised at how that smoothness began to wear off as the debate progressed. The clear body language of annoyance with McCain, the alteranting forced smiles and scowls, the head-saking "sssha" -- it was more sublte than Al Gore's 2000 eye-rolling, but communicated the same message.

For example, when McCain talked about the bracelet he wears, given to him by the mother of a dead Iraqi War veteran, Obama petulantly replied, "I've got a bracelet, too" as if it they were comparing jewelry. And it didn't help that Obama couldn't seem to remember the name of the solider on his bracelet without looking at it -- ironic, since that is why the mother gave it to Obama.