Sen. John McCain’s request for a town hall meeting was finally granted in the second presidential debate.
The debate was held Tuesday at Belmont University in Nashville.
This was the only presidential debate presented in town hall format.
Voters submitted thousands of questions for the debate, and moderator Tom Brokaw chose about 13 of these questions to read to McCain and Sen. Barack Obama.
While many of the questions were asked by audience members, Rene McEldowney, an associate professor of political science, said the debate was not conducted in real town hall format.
“In other town hall meetings there are usually more questions from the audience,” McEldowney said. “Brokaw asked a lot of questions.”
Stephen Hoar, a sophomore in English, liked the format.
“I thought the style was cool, because you got to see a lot of the opinions and concerns of the American public,” Hoar said.
Damon Lawrence, a freshman in business management, said Brokaw was a great choice for moderator.
“(Brokaw’s) been around forever, and he’s seen most major political things of the last century,” Lawrence said. “He’s honest, and he gives off the impression that he can be trusted.”
At one point during the debate, in a discussion over Pakistan and foreign policy, Brokaw allowed the candidates to exchange heated words.
McEldowney said she was “surprised” about this exchange between the candidates.
“I thought they’d be able to restrain their frustration better,” McEldowney said. “But, we should give both candidates credit, because they got back on track.”
For most of the debate the candidates ignored their two minute time constraints, taking as long as they wished to answer questions.
Lawrence said he would have admired the candidates more for staying within the time limit.
“I was disappointed with both candidates’ disregard for formal debate rules,” Lawrence said. “They went over the time limits and didn’t stick to the questions.”
Hoar said the debate was evenly matched.
“Both candidates are leaders,” Hoar said. “I thought McCain did a better job discussing the country’s safety, but I liked Obama’s foreign policy.”
One controversial foreign policy question asked involved pursuing enemies in Pakistan.
McCain accused Obama of wanting to invade Pakistan.
Obama quickly defended himself, saying he did not want to invade Pakistan. However, if information was gathered that Osama bin Laden was hiding in Pakistan, Obama said he would take action to kill bin Laden if the Pakistani government would not.
Much of the debate focused on fixing America’s economic situation.
To solve the country’s economic crisis, McCain said he would buy bad housing loans, while Obama said he would end the war in Iraq, using that money in the U.S.
Candidates also laid out their health care plans.
McEldowney, who is a health care politics professor, said the candidates shared their visions well.
“Both plans take the nation’s health care places it has never been,” McEldowney said. “It is an argument over ideologies.”
At one point, the candidates were asked whether they thought health care was a right, a privilege or a responsibility.
McCain said healthcare was a responsibility, but Obama called it a right. McEldowney said Obama is only the second candidate, after Teddy Roosevelt, to call healthcare a right.
McEldowney said she thought Obama won the debate.
“I think he stayed on message,” McEldowney said. “He seemed more knowledgeable, relaxed and in control. (Town hall meetings) might be McCain’s style, but he seemed edgy.”
The final presidential debate will be held Wednesday night at Hofstra University.
