Third and Final Presidential Debate at the Hofstra University

Third Presidential Debate
David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex
Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY
Wednesday, October 15, 2008

http://www.hofstra.edu/debate/

Subject: Domestic policy.

Moderator: Bob Schieffer - CBS News Chief Washington Correspondent, and Host, "Face the Nation."

Audience: 56.5 million viewers (40.0 million households).
Source: Nielsen, based on live coverage on ABC, CBS, NBC, Telefutura, Telemundo, BBC-America, CNBC, CNN, FOX News Channel, and MSNBC. (Not on FOX due to Phillies-Dodgers playoff game).

Transcript

Photos

"We came into the debate with two thirds of the American people thinking that John McCain is running a negative campaign, and Senator McCain spent 90 minutes trying to convince the other third. Once again, Barack Obama won a clear victory because he made the case for change for the middle class, while John McCain just had angry and negative attacks. Barack Obama showed the steady leadership that the American people need, and offered specific plans on the issues that matter to the middle class – creating jobs, cutting health care costs, building a new energy policy, and getting our economy moving. Senator McCain said that George Bush isn’t on the ballot, but he couldn’t name a single way that his economic policies will be any different. This was John McCain’s last chance for a game-changer, and he didn’t get it."

Obama-Biden campaign manager David Plouffe

"John McCain won tonight's debate with strong, clear straight talk about setting a new direction for our country and fighting for working families. He outlined a specific, bold plan for creating jobs, helping those near retirement, keeping people in their homes, curbing spending, lowering health care costs and achieving energy independence. He vowed to fight for 'Joe the Plumber' every day he is President and he affirmed his belief that we shouldn't raise taxes just to 'spread the wealth.' While Barack Obama is measuring the drapes and campaigning against a man not even on the ballot, John McCain demonstrated that he has the experience, judgment, independence and courage to fight for every American."

McCain-Palin 2008 Communications Director Jill Hazelbaker

On the Front Page

Newspaper	Headline/Reporter	Photo
New York Times	"McCain Press Obama in Last and Pointed Debate: Lively Exchanges on Policy and Character" by Jim Rutenberg. and..."Rivals Split, With Joe in the Middle" (The TV Watch) by Alessandra Stanley.	Tightly cropped medium shot of Obama and McCain facing the camera, both speaking and gesturing, and Schieffer between them, back to the camera. Damon Winter/The New York Times.

Washington Post	"A Hard-Hitting Final Round: As McCain Presses Attack, Obama Stresses The Economy" by Michael D. Shea and Robert Barnes. and...(below the fold) "Aggressive Underdog vs. Cool Counterpuncher" (Analysis) by Dan Balz.	Very similar image to the NYT shot, possibly taken seconds before or after. Unusual cropping; a strong horizontal aspect ration of more than 2:1. Ron Edmonds-Associated Press.

Wall Street Journal	"Obama, McCain Trade Jabs Over Taxes, Tone of Campaign" by Laura Meckler and Christopher Cooper.	[Below the fold] Medium shot of the two candidates seated at the table, both candidates gesturing, McCain (head on) speaking and Obama (from the side) listening. Getty Images.

USA Today	"Candidates take of gloves for final debate: McCain, Obama take shots on economy, campaign tone" by David Jackson and Martha T. Moore.	Medium shot of Obama and McCain greeting each other before the debate. Robert Deutsch, USA Today.

Washington Times	"McCain unrelenting in final debate; Obama accused of class warfare" by Stephen Dinan.	Medium shot of the two candidates seated at the table, McCain (head on) making a point and Obama (from the side) listening. Similar to image used by the WSJ. Getty Images.

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