Opinion

Debate upshot: Obama was the cooler hand

Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) take part in their Town Hall Presidential Debate at Belmont University's Curb Event Center October 7, 2008 in Nashville, Tennessee. less Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) take part in their Town Hall Presidential Debate at Belmont University's Curb Event ... more Photo: Getty Images Photo: Getty Images Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Debate upshot: Obama was the cooler hand 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

No one had to look at the latest polls to know that Sen. Barack Obama was taking command of the presidential election. The expressions on Sen. John McCain's face, and the irritation in his voice, said it all.

Tuesday night's debate in Nashville, in a town hall format, did not break any significant new ground. Anyone who has followed this campaign through the long primary season and the conventions would have recognized variations of lines that have become familiar by now. Obama punctuated his points about the folly of deregulation and the Bush tax cuts and the costly distraction of the invasion of Iraq. McCain hammered at his themes of experience, oil drilling and the importance of prevailing in Iraq.

At one point, when the discussion turned to the appropriate use of military force, McCain spoke of the need to have a "cool hand at the tiller."

On this night, in a venue that put a premium on interpersonal dynamics, Obama was the cool hand at the tiller.

When McCain attacked, as he did more frequently than his opponent, Obama just smiled.

McCain's body language in the cutaway shots was a portrait of frustration. He smirked, grimaced and grabbed the microphone tightly. He had no major gaffes, though he did have moments of awkwardness, such as when he pointed to Obama and referred to him as "that one." McCain could barely conceal his contempt for the Illinois senator.

Obama attacked less, and when he did, his delivery carried less edge. He exuded the confidence of a candidate whose message of change was clearly benefiting from Americans' anxiety about one of the worst economic crises in U.S. history.

John McCain always talked about town halls as his format, but this was Barack Obama's night.