The Obama campaign came into tonight's debate with a few goals they thought Senator Obama could achieve regardless of what kind of performance Senator McCain put in.

First, they wanted to see a more vigorous, more focused presentation from a candidate who was sometimes seen as too laconic during the primary debates. That also meant less lofty, less wordy, less professorial answers from Obama. On this point they seem to have succeeded. He gave clear, generally tight answers to questions (though his first answer to a simple question about whether he supports the financial bailout plan congress is working on was an exception). His phrasing was conversational: "Let's be clear about the numbers..." ; "You're using a hatchet when you should be using a scalpel"; and "being wildly liberal was mostly me voting against George W. Bush's policies."

The other test was simple: make it easier for any American who has doubts to be able to better picture Obama as President. As Commander-in-Chief. The campaign feels they succeded on that score as well.