First Obama-McCain debate

I watched the debate last night and while I was not surprised at how well Barack Obama did, I was surprised by just how well John McCain held his own.

I suddenly realized that the vote John McCain has locked up and which Barack Obama has yet to reach is the voter who asks themselves the question: "Which candidate would you most like to go out and have a beer with?"

Of course for me the answer would be Barack Obama but for that demographic of young-to-middle-aged White males, the voters George W. Bush was always so successful with, I'm afraid McCain comes off as 'more fun.'

Of course this begs the question of whether we would prefer a fun president or a competent, principled one, yet in American politics getting elected is still very much a popularity contest.