The New York Times reports on John McCain's ties to the gaming industry and his personal gambling habits.

Only six members of Congress have received more money from the gambling industry than Mr. McCain....

....For much of his adult life, Mr. McCain has gambled as often as once a month, friends and associates said, traveling to Las Vegas for weekend betting marathons. Former senior campaign officials said they worried about Mr. McCain’s patronage of casinos, given the power he wields over the industry.

About McCain's role in taking down Jack Abramoff for his representation of Indian tribes: [More...]

The baffling logic of John McCain:

"I was a little disappointed the media called it a tie, but I think that means when they call it a tie that means we win."

And if the public calls it an Obama win, does that also mean McCain wins?

John McCain's claim that the bailout bill required his personal attention, a claim that prompted him to suspend his campaign (except for all the campaigning he did during the suspension) and to blow off the debate (except for his participation in it), is all the more difficult to swallow today. If the bill is so important that only McCain can lead his party's negotiations, where is McCain today?

Mr. McCain remained in his condominium in Arlington, Va., until 12:30 p.m. Saturday, when he emerged and made a one-minute trip in his motorcade to his campaign headquarters around the corner.

Mark Salter confirmed that McCain won't go to Capitol Hill today, but will make sure negotiations "move along" by talking on the telephone.

Asked why Mr. McCain did not go to Capitol Hill after coming back to Washington to help with negotiations, Mr. Salter replied that "he can effectively do what he needs to do by phone."

Apparently McCain didn't learn until this morning that telephones exist. At least McCain is likely to do less damage if he stays away.

Where was Gov. Sarah Palin last night? For an hour before the debate started, she was at an Irish pub in Philly, shaking hands and meeting people.

Palin appeared at the bar on 20th and Walnut streets last night to shake hands with her fans for about an hour before the first presidential debate. While the crowd inside was friendly, hundreds of people lined the street outside in protest with signs that read things like "Palin is Santorum With Lipstick."

She didn't take questions. [More...]

A great line today from Barack Obama, as he hones his argument that John McCain is out of touch with ordinary voters:

"Through 90 minutes of debate, John McCain had a lot to say about me, but he didn't have anything to say about you," Obama told a cheering crowd at the J. Douglas Galyon Depot in downtown Greensboro. "He didn't even say the words 'middle class.' He didn't even say the words 'working people.'"

Meanwhile, a Bloomberg/Los Angeles Times poll tells us that McCain is losing ground with older voters. That's unsurprising, given McCain's inability to arrive at a consistent position on social security or on the economic turmoil that threatens retirees who depend upon investment income to maintain a decent standard of living.

Michael Tomasky thinks John McCain twice uttered an expletive during last night's debate. Steven Leser agrees. They might be right. Both link to the portion of the debate that has McCain muttering something that sounds like it starts with "horse." Listen and decide for yourself.

On a positive note, at least McCain didn't drop an F-bomb like his friend Dick Cheney. But then, Cheney wasn't participating in a nationally televised debate.

After the first 15 minutes of the debate last night, I could not watch I was so upset with Obama's performance in the economic portion of the debate. I thought, and still think, Obama gave McCain the upper hand on an issue Obama should have had McCain crying on. But for the rest of the debate Barack Obama dominated John McCain, on foreign policy no less. And Obama won the debate. He was the President on stage. An ironic turn.

Of course I agree with Obama on the issues, so I will favor him anyway. But it was more than that. After a seemingly nervous start on the economy, Obama hit his stride on foreign policy and McCain hit his McNasty button. Mccain was incredibly unlikable and unPresidential. Obama was the President on that stage, not McCain. CGR focus group study gives you an idea what I am talking about:

Here's some early commentary on tonight's debate between Senators Barack Obama and John McCain:

• Focus Groups, Undecideds For Obama

• CBS News: Knowledge Network Undecideds Give Debate To Obama

• Halperin: Obama A- McCain B-

• Philadelphia Inquirer: McCain Uncertain - "McCain has been uncertain - Obama not."

More...

The debate transcript is here. What were your favorite parts? I'll add the clips to this thread.

Updates below.

CNN just conducted an Opinion Research telephone poll. Obama beat McCain by big margins:

• The debate: 52% to 38%
• Iraq: 52% to 47%
• Economy: 58% to 37%

Update: More than 60% of the CNN focus group in Ohio said Obama won. 64% said they thought he would be the next President.

Update: CBS poll finds more undecideds thought Obama won.

CNN just interviewed a McCain adviser named Nicole. She not only watched a different debate than the rest of us, she's deaf. She said Obama, whose tax cuts would apply to 95% of Americans, all who earn under $250k, would enact tax increases for the vast majority of Americans.

Once she said that, I just tuned her out.

It's the difference between spinning and outright lying. She lied.

Who won? I think Obama killed McCain on foreign policy. No one could watch that debate and have doubts about his ability to deal with these issues.

McCain represents the past. Obama looks like the future.