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The second presidential debate conducted on Oct. 7 marked deciding factors or supported many voters’ choices for the election. Some reactions were shared between members of different political groups while other arguments broke out in differing opinions.

 One thing that everyone seemed to agree one thing, Barack Obama was a much better speaker. Despite that one agreement, personal beliefs played deciding factors in the actual speeches. Shari Troast explained “Obama just knows how to address the audience better.” Cindy Norona thought “Obama, he’s well spoken, explains himself very well. Both of these confessed they were voting for Obama. Patrick Currie who said he would be voting for McCain also stated “Obama is a much, much better speaker, but he doesn’t have anything to say.”

 Another question not so easily agreed upon. Who won the debate? Tara Glynn who stated she is typically undefined to any party but this election she is a firm voter for Obama. She thought “Obama, he managed to stick to the issues, regardless of the numerous attempts to steer the conversation towards the mudslinging tactics of both parties. He was very clear and precise about his standing on all the issues he addressed. He broke them down, explained them very well and how they would affect the everyday American and how he would fix the problem. He made great strides in past accusations of being too vague while keeping the respect level up saying several times that he respected McCain and Palin while disagreeing with them. He had more basis and figures while McCain relied on emotions and ‘Joe the plumber”. Currie was against this arguing that “He only represented his ideas so-so”.

 Almost every person did agree that the opposing person they favored did make some good points. Glynn stated “I thought McCain addressed his economy plan very well, while I disagree with it. He had the most justification behind it. You could tell he clearly knew what he was talking about and felt passionate about it. He answered this question with the least insults to Obama and was divisive in his response.”Currie thought “Obama addressed the schools well because his ideas were good and he stated them clearly and seemed very opinionated on the topic. Schips said “McCain probably won over the sympathy vote when explaining how Obama had hurt his feelings.”

 What were the faults of each campaigner? Dotan Schips thought “McCain blinks a lot and looks down to the left and that’s a sign of lying.” Jacqueline Orbe said “McCain focused too much on arguing with Obama then answering questions himself.” Troast said “I am never really sure what McCain is talking about, he never answers the questions that he is asked, so it gets hard to follow. He just rambles on about energy and why Obama ‘doesn’t understand’. “Norona thought “McCain focused too much on how Obama had hurt his feelings but that’s part of campaigning.” Currie thought “Obama doesn’t seem to ever get across any points. He talks really smoothly and sounds great but he’s never quite saying anything. He addresses the public well and makes himself sound like he’s talking about something but he never is actually saying a thing of importance.”

There was no clear topic that stuck out from the interviews as a topic addressed the most clear and concise in overall opinion. McCain was said for addressing the topic of Education, talking about campaigning, the energy plan, his economy plan and his opinions on spending. While Obama was said to have addressed taxes, schools and health care.

According to a poll Obama won the second presidential debate winning 56% of the voter’s response.

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