Valley residents gather to watch McCain, Obama in first debate

When Barack Obama declared that looking into someone's eyes and seeing his soul is no way to conduct foreign relations, the North Las Vegas home of Sheryl Parks went up in cheers.

Five women, all Obama supporters, had gathered there to watch the first presidential debate between Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee, and Republican John McCain. They cackled knowingly at Obama's barb, a reference to President Bush's relationship with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

Across town, at the Las Vegas home of John and Caridad Pfeiffer, the reaction was the opposite. The 25 McCain supporters who gathered there frowned at Obama's remark.

But when McCain responded that he had looked into Putin's eyes and seen "three letters, K-G-B," the room went wild. "He's not going to get anywhere trying to tie McCain to Bush!" a listener yelled.

These were among the diverse opinions offered Friday night at two debate parties in the Las Vegas Valley.