McCain was more peppery than ever last night. He was direct and pointed in his criticisms of Obama and has been getting stronger on domestic policy throughout the debates. Maybe if they had a series of 10 more debates stretching into next year, McCain would get fully up to speed on all that he’s neglected to learn about domestic policy throughout his long career. Maybe then he’d put Obama away with a proverbial knock-out blow once and for all.

Maybe. But Obama would still enjoy beguiling stylistic advantages. McCain comes off as too tightly wound. He had a strained, insincere laugh much of last night. At times, if you didn’t know, you might think he was the newcomer to the national stage – writing furiously on his yellow pad and referring to his notes, and stumbling over his words because he’s trying to get out so much at once.