The final debate

10:30 p.m. -- John McCain was much, much better tonight. He stayed on the attack, and Obama spent a lot of time on the defensive. I don't think this debate was the cliched "game changer," but it's certainly a vast improvement for McCain over his previous performances.

10:22 p.m. -- Obama just said you have to be specific about how federal programs are going to be paid for. DAAYYUMMM.

10:21 p.m. -- Obama just advocated higher teacher pay. BTW, did you know that public-school teachers make more than journalists? And teachers don't have to blog boring debates.

10:18 p.m. -- McCain's talking choice and competition in education.

10:17 p.m. -- Obama wants to "recruit ... an army of new teachers." Why? I don't get why this line is considered a winner. Is he just pandering to teachers unions?

10:14 p.m. -- Obama is still talking abortion. Let him have all the time he wants. Now he's talking about "appropriate [sex] education." How about, "Keep your britches on, kids"?

10:10 p.m. -- Obama: "The court has to stand up when no one else will." In other words, a 5-man majority of appointed-for-life justices is more important than every elected official in the country.

10:08 p.m. -- They've got Obama talking abortion. "I think the Constitution has a right to privacy in it that shouldn't be subject to a state referendum." Where is that right, Senator? And why didn't anyone notice it before 1973?

10:04 p.m. -- Did McCain just say, "Senator McGovern"?

10:03 p.m. -- Linked by Pam at Right Voices. Thanks.

10 p.m. -- Who are these large businesses who don't provide health care that Obama is talking about? McDonald's? Wal-Mart?

9:58 p.m. -- McCain's down in the tall grass talking about health care and poverty, then suddenly -- Joe the Plumber to the rescue! Joe the Plumber for President!

9:55 p.m. -- McCain hits Obama on Hugo Chavez. ¡La educación es revolución!

9:53 p.m. -- Obama: "Highly fuel-efficient car of the future." Meet George Jetson ...

9:52 p.m. -- McCain: "Senator Obama, who has never traveled south of our border . . ." And? What's the point?

9:49 p.m. -- Obama: "We should look at off-shore drilling." Look at it. Not do anything about it, but just look at it.

9:46 p.m. -- Give us a number. Any number will do.

9:45 p.m. -- 850 ZILLION DOLLARS!

9:41 p.m. -- Obama speaks of government spending as "investing in the American people." I always hated that "investment" rhetoric when Clinton used it -- Clinton invented it, as far as I know -- and I don't like it any better now.

9:40 p.m. -- Biden vs. Palin. Schieffer pitches one into Obama's wheelhouse.

9:38 p.m. -- Obama just spent 2 minutes talking about Bill Ayers and ACORN, which is 2 minutes more than he's talked about them in any previous debate.

9:34 p.m. -- McCain strongly defends his audiences. Very feisty. Where was this candidate during the first two debates?

9:32 p.m. -- Obama is on defense tonight.

9:30 p.m. -- McCain, who had interrupted to say "that's not true" on Obama's Big Lie, forgets to come back and bust him on it it when his turn comes.

9:27 p.m. -- Again, Obama the excellent liar accuses McCain of running 100% negative ads. And outright lie, and he says it with utter confidence that nobody in the media will call him on it.

9:23 p.m. -- McCain's talking "climate change." Ick.

9:22 p.m. -- Obama voted for tort reform?

9:21 p.m. -- If McCain had been this sharp in the first two debates . . .

9:18 p.m. -- Obama wants to "focus on the programs that work." Ick.

9:15 p.m. -- Obama is an excellent liar. He lies confidently, boldly, and in such a way that, unless you actually know the facts, you'd never guess he was lying.

9:12 p.m. -- Dang, Maverick's feisty tonight.

Sorry to be joining it a little late tonight. Liveblogging at Ace of Spades, Hot Air and Michelle Malkin.