Saddleback Church Showdown

Summary of performances by Barack Obama and John McCain at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California on August 16, 2008:

Image courtesy of http://northernhorse.com/westwind/coltProgram.html.

Image courtesy of http://www.animationlibrary.com/animation_download/18754/.

According to Rick Davis, the campaign manager for John McCain,

The reviews are in from Saturday’s Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency, moderated by Pastor Rick Warren. The critics agree – John McCain’s straight talk emerged as the big winner of the night.

After watching both candidates answer the same set of questions, it’s become clear why Senator Barack Obama has run away from debating John McCain and refused joint town hall meetings. Senator Obama dodged answering the toughest questions. But John McCain gave straight and direct answers to Rick Warren and the entire audience about issues like national security, personal faith and values, education, taxes, energy, and the Supreme Court.

CBS News Story, McCain  Scores A Bump From Saddleback, notes improving support from voters across the country.

The Washington Post noted BOTH Candidates Had Advance  Look At Questions,

News Hounds story noted that one of the questions was given to Obama beforeheand, but Warren never had the chance to give it to McCain because he arrived late.

Either way, McCain came off as straightforward, as opposed to Obama who gave Warren the impression of nuance.  The Saddleback Presidential Candidates transcript may help you decide.

Image courtesy of http://roadsassy.com/2008/04/18/can-obama-even-spell-capitalism/ and http://dyn.politico.com/members/forums/thread.cfm?catid=1&subcatid=2&threadid=1478733&&&start=601&CurrentPage=21.