Voters' Views: Philip Craig Leiter

Voters have questioned Barack Obama and John McCain in a town hall-style debate dominated by the financial crisis and foreign policy.

Here Republican and Democratic voters from across the US reflect on how the candidates performed.

Philip Craig LeiterStudent | Republican

I got the impression that McCain was here to save us and Obama was here to suffer with us

Age: 18 Lives: Minneapolis, Minnesota Occupation: Student Last election voted: Too young to vote In 10 words or fewer: Realist, cosmopolitan, progressive, content Voters' Views: main page

He needed to exploit Senator Obama's inexperience at a time of economic crisis. However, McCain did not push the issue enough. Obama's charisma was too great to dislike him - which was surprising.

But I would say McCain dominated the debate - he was very knowledgeable and connected better with the American worker. I personally felt a sense of national pride when McCain spoke about our people.

McCain tackled Obama over his plans to cut taxes - pointing out that Obama has a record of voting for tax increases.

Obama was flip-flopping on his previous statement that drilling for oil was not the solution or part of the solution to our nation's energy concerns. The truth is we need to start drilling and McCain continued to support the idea.

It seemed to me that McCain answered all the questions with solutions to the problems and Obama just told what was wrong with the nation.

I got the impression that McCain was here to save us and Obama was here to suffer with us."

You can add your comments and questions on Philip's views using the form below:

Your comments:

I agree with your views about the debate, and how McCain was providing us with solutions and Obama was describing the problems. But I do not agree with you when you say we should start drilling, I think any money that goes into that project should be put into research projects to find a new fuel form. Because we need to get away from fossil fuels and get a cleaner energy.
Paul Koski, Golden Valley, USA

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The readers' panel has been selected from as wide a cross-section of people as possible and may not be representative of wider US public opinion.

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