Schieffer Vows to Get Straight Answers in Debate

Abortion, Supreme Court among issues ignored in McCain-Obama encounters thus far

(NEWSER) - There's just one debate to go, and a surprising number of "hot buttons have gone unpressed," writes John J. Pitney, Jr. in the National Review. A search of the previous debates' transcripts turned up plenty of topics that demand a visit:

• Abortion: “So far, nobody has even uttered the word in the debates,” despite the sharp contrast between the candidates.

(NEWSER) - The moderators for the three presidential debates have been announced, and none of them are particularly gasp-inducing, the Swamp reports. Tom Brokaw, interim host of Meet the Press, Jim Lehrer, of PBS’ News Hour, and Bob Schieffer of CBS’ Face the Nation, will each host a debate, while Gwen Ifill, also of PBS, drew the single vice-presidential face-off. The first debate will be September 26. More»

Red states flicker as McCain struggles to fill stadiums in Iowa, Ohio

(NEWSER) - John McCain insists his campaign is “doing fine” even as his rallies in key states pull a fraction of the crowds turning out for Barack Obama, the Chicago Tribune reports. The Republican drew about 2,000 supporters at each of his recent events in Iowa and Ohio. Obama, meanwhile, spoke to tens of thousands at rallies in Colorado. More»

Comeback unlikely for grumpy-seeming Republican

(NEWSER) - The debate last night was all about whether John McCain could pull off a game-changer; while some pundits saw his best debate performance yet, most agreed that he didn't score.

• Time’s Mark Halperin liked what he saw at first, as McCain "showed off the best of himself—dedicated, sincere, patriotic, cheery, earnest, commanding." But he lost it in the second half, getting "aggressive and distracted."

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama and John McCain were hit with blunt questions tonight about how they would "bail out" Americans hurt by the staggering economy. In the second of three debates, this one a town hall-style face-off, the candidates fielded questions from an audience of 80 undecided voters and moderator Tom Brokaw. In one of the evening's few surprises, McCain said the Treasury Department should buy up all the troubled mortgages in the country, and help homeowners renegotiate them. More»