The debate

Viewers heard familiar themes during Friday night's presidential debate at the University of Mississippi.

Democrat Barrack Obama was intent on tying his Republican opponent to the unpopular Bush administration.

Meanwhile, GOP candidate John McCain stressed his reputation as a fiscal watchdog and went out of his way to highlight the experience factor, making several references to foreign nations he has visited and leaders he has met.

Neither man committed any blatant gaffes or delivered any serious blows. The closest either came to uttering a memorable line was when Sen. McCain commented about having seen the letters "KGB" when he looked into the eyes of Russia's Vladimir Putin.

The exchanges were generally cordial and both men carried themselves well, but Sen. Obama seemed defensive at times and sometimes interrupted Sen. McCain.

On foreign affairs, Sen. McCain was better versed, with Sen. Obama even refusing to acknowledge the turnaround in Iraq.

On economic matters, Sen. McCain was correct to emphasize his fights against earmarks and to highlight Sen. Obama's penchant for big spending. When asked what parts of their agendas might need to be scrapped in light of the expensive financial bailout, Sen. McCain noted that he didn't favor any big new government programs, anyway, and might even propose a freeze on certain government spending. Sen. Obama didn't answer the question directly, preferring instead to run through a list of programs he said were too important to delay.

It was clear who would be a better steward of taxpayer money.

Sen. Obama stuck to his talking points on taxes, saying he favors higher levies only on the top 5 percent of wage earners. Sen. McCain responded correctly, saying that he doesn't favor higher taxes on anybody. Good.

This debate, moderated by Jim Lehrer of PBS, likely didn't sway many voters one way or the other. The two men will get another chance on Oct. 7 when they sit down at Belmont University in Nashville for the second round.