Analysis: Sharp tone, no gaffes in town hall debate

NASHVILLE -- When John McCain was counted out for the Republican nomination last year, he used town-hall-style meetings — more than 100 in every corner of New Hampshire — to fuel his comeback in January's Granite State primary.

Now, his support flagging one month before November's election, the Arizona senator hoped the casual format in his second debate against Democrat Barack Obama on Tuesday would help him shake up another race that seemed to be sliding away.

But the evening was less freewheeling than most town halls — the campaigns negotiated rules that set time limits and discouraged follow-ups — and most of the back-and-forth echoed the candidates' stump speeches and TV ads.

Ninety minutes later, there had been no big flubs or knockout punches by either man, nothing that signaled the sort of "game changer" that McCain needed at a time Obama is rising in polls nationwide and in key states.

Their tone was generally civil but their exchanges were unyielding and the strain of the long campaign apparent. At their first debate, Obama repeatedly had noted when he agreed with McCain; that theme was absent this time. At one point, McCain disparagingly referred to Obama simply as "that one."

There was more movement, more flashes of personality and more interplay between the candidates than before.

McCain was clearly more relaxed, strolling around the stage, joking with moderator Tom Brokaw and even clapping one questioner on the back. Speaking in a low, earnest tone, he portrayed Obama as a politician with a "short career" and a "secret" plan to raise taxes. He unveiled a $300 billion Treasury plan to help homeowners renegotiate mortgages and stay in their homes.

"Times are tough," he said as the debate came to a close. "We need a steady hand at the tiller."

Obama stepped toward the questioners and called them by their first names, though he lacked McCain's easy warmth. He blamed the economic meltdown on "the failed economic policies of the past eight years, strongly promoted by President Bush and supported by Sen. McCain." He questioned McCain's steadiness, noting he had jokingly sung about bombing Iran.