The Mudflats poll had “compulsive blinking” as the number 3 most annoying McCain-ism of the debate, after the “hideous death grin” and Joe the plumber.

True, the blinking was incessant throughout, but this one particular moment was the blinking highlight of the debate. McCain has been asking over the course of two debates now, for the dollar amount of the fine that Barack Obama would impose on small business owners for not providing health care. He finally got his answer. “Zero.” This apparently unanticipated answer caused a screeching sound in McCain’s brain that almost got picked up by the microphones, causing him to shift from “smug” to “deer in the headlights” in 1.8 seconds flat.

The outcome, for those of you keeping track at home was a whopping 54 blinks in 28 seconds. That’s almost two full blinks per second, nevermind the untold mental whiplash for McCain. Just for fun, try watching the video above and blink along.