US presidential debate was a damp squib

The much anticipated debate between Republican presidential candidate John McCain and Democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama eventually took place on Friday night.

The on-again, off-again, on-again tussle proved to be way below expectations of the media and possibly many Americans as well. The hoped-for explosive dialogue, the first in what may be a series before the elections, turned out to be a damp squib.

The heated exchanges, mainly on foreign policy, were so few and far between that viewers could be forgiven for thinking they never existed as the temperature of the debate never rose above lukewarm.

Most of what was said by both candidates had already been spelt out over a period of months and reinforced by the many advertisements that have plagued the public. There was nothing new to excite the blood or even - worse - to set either of them apart as suitable material for the next president of the most powerful country in the world.

In this, the most expensive presidential election campaign ever, it would not have been unreasonable to see some flashes of brilliance or perception to tip the balance in their favour. But nothing was forthcoming.

As President George W. Bush wraps up his second term in office, being generally recognised as the most unpopular president ever, it should be a relatively simple matter for the aspirants to high office to demonstrate to the public, and his opponent, exactly how their policy differs from the present incumbent.

Sadly, none of this was forthcoming. Instead, the candidates took the opportunity to take pot-shots at each other, hoping to score points by making themselves look clever and their opponent look silly.

It was obvious though that neither candidate has the gravitas to carry it off, leaving viewers, the audience and even the moderator, wanting more.