In the first showdown between the two presidential candidates, scheduled to primarily address foreign policy, questions about the current economic crisis became the opening act for the debate with moderator Jim Lehrer's first question about the federal bailout plan.
"Gentlemen, at this very moment tonight, where do you stand on the financial recovery plan?" Lehrer asked at the opening of the debate, held at the University of Mississippi.
Sen. Barack Obama responded by saying the plan needs to address the problem of foreclosures and be overseen to ensure taxpayers receive the potential gains from the plan.
"I think that the fundamentals of the economy have to be measured by whether or not the middle class is getting a fair shake," Obama said.
McCain argued the package has both accountability and oversight as well as options for loans to failing businesses, which would prevent the government from taking over these loans. He said despite the current economic times, he feels good about the plan and will likely vote for it.
"As we're here tonight in this debate, we are seeing, for the first time in a long time, Republicans and Democrats together, sitting down, trying to work out a solution to this fiscal crisis that we're in," McCain said.
The debate then turned to the Iraq War in which McCain questioned Obama's experience with foreign policy, and Obama questioned McCain and his support of President George W. Bush's policies regarding the war.
"We have to use our military wisely," Obama said. "And we did not use our military wisely in Iraq."
McCain said the military surge, which Obama initially opposed, has been working and is leading to a decrease in violence.
"The consequences of defeat would have been increased Iranian influence," McCain said. "It would have been a wider war, which the United States of America might have had to come back."
While the two candidates clashed on the issues, University students have expressed mixed reactions to the debate.
RU Democrats President Brett Tinder said he was glad McCain attended the debate and that there was a good discussion of the issues. He said the debate showed the difference between the candidates.
"There is a myth that Sen. McCain knows everything about foreign policy," said Tinder, a Livingston College senior.
But Tinder said he thinks McCain shows flawed judgment in regards to the Iraq War.
"[Obama] did a good job pointing out McCain's poor job regarding Iraq," Tinder said.
The ability to make sound decisions, Tinder said, is something the president would use over and over again in areas other than foreign policy and was something Obama needed to show in this debate.
"The most important judgment a president has to make is how to use our military force," Tinder said.
He said despite McCain's experience, Obama was successful in displaying his ability to make decisions on this critical issue.
"I think Obama won the debate because the points McCain was making weren't as strong," said Phillip Darold, a School of Arts and Sciences first-year student, who said he is supporting Obama because of his stance on the Iraq War. "Obama had strong rebuttals."
But Ben Demarzo, the treasurer of the Rutgers College Republicans, disagreed, saying the debate showed Obama's inexperience.
"He's been on the ground with the general," Demarzo said. "He's proposed a plan that has worked."
Demarzo said McCain also showed leadership by going to Washington to work on the rescue plan, though he tried to postpone the debate.
"He did the responsible thing and went down to Washington," said Demarzo, a Rutgers College junior. "Barack Obama sat around uncertain of what to do while McCain took charge."
Demarzo said he is not seeing leadership in Obama as he does in McCain.
"You're seeing [Obama] respond to the polls," Demarzo said. "It's very dangerous in a president."
Other students were less impressed with the debate and unclear as to which candidate appeared stronger.
"I had high expectations [I] wouldn't hear the same sound bites [I've] been hearing at campaign rallies and I was disappointed," said Corbin Laedlein, a Rutgers College senior.
Laedlin said it just didn't seem like there was a clear-cut winner. The both held their own on foreign policy.
"I think the debate was basically a tie," said Joyce Kong, a Rutgers College junior. "Obama seemed more academic. McCain seemed more passionate and partisan."
Kong said she was not moved by either candidate and doesn't plan on voting for either one.
Yuriy Boarnaev, a School of Arts Sciences junior, said the whole thing disgusted her.
"They're both saying the same thing, reading off of speeches someone else wrote," said Boarnaev, who is not a U.S. citizen. "I wish I could say it better, but I didn't have someone write a speech for me."
Other students said while they missed the debate, they were interested in the outcome and were concerned about McCain's connection with Bush's policies.
"I wish I paid more attention to the debate … I'm ready for a change," said Kyle Farrell, a Mason Gross School of the Arts junior who said he plans to vote for Obama on Nov. 4.
He said the ability to vote to change the policies of the Bush administration is important.
Cook College junior Lauren Snedeker had class during the debate but said she would be supporting Obama because she thinks he will be better for the economy and for students.
"I liked to hear [Obama] talk about lowering tuition rates, and I haven't heard McCain talk about that," she said. "If McCain supported Bush 95 percent of the time, obviously I don't want him to be president."
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