Isn't it amazing, as Isn't it amazing, as Harold hinted at below, that Obama is such a phenomenon at this point that you have Republicans complimenting him? Is it possible for one candidate to win two debates in a single night, even if he's only entered in one? What's also clear to me is, a few polite barbs aside, how much more thoughtful and civil the tone of this debate is, compared to the earlier one. (On that note, I will have some juicy quotes from the Spin Room by Romney surrogate Ron Kauffman and McCain surrogate Lindsey Graham once I get them transcribed.) Totally different tenor. That said, isn't it about time that the national media narrative about which party "doesn't know what it stands for" and which party is a "compilation of its identity groups" officially shift from the Democrats to the Republicans? To me, it's clear how much the fate and ideas of the two parties have shifted since November 2004, and it's a stunning change. --Tom Schaller
