Blog Buzz: Joe the Plumber Makes His Debut, Debate Reactions, John McCain and Barack Obama Release New Ads

Our daily look at stories and topics that are lighting up the Internets:

Introducing...Joe the Plumber

Neither John McCain nor Barack Obama emerged as the star of last night's debate. That distinction goes to Joe Wurzelbacher—aka Joe the Plumber—who was referenced 23 times by the candidates during a discussion of Obama's tax plan (and what impact it would have on Joe). Liberal bloggers aren't too impressed with this new celebrity, calling him "misguided" and saying that he's not the uncommitted voter the media claims he is. At the New Republic, Michelle Cottle says she doesn't pity Joe for potentially having to pay higher taxes, and Jonathan Cohn isn't sure that Joe the Plumber is a good stand-in for Joe Six Pack, as he was intended to be. Conservative bloggers have embraced Joe, saying he showed "how one man can make a difference." Byron York at National Review Online, however, cautions Joe about his newfound fame.

"Surly" McCain, "Frozen Cucumber" Obama

Bloggers agree that the only winners of last night's debate were Joe the Plumber and moderator Bob Schieffer. As far as McCain's performance, liberal bloggers say it was his best debate of the three, but he still came off as angry, surly, and incoherent, and he did little to help his flailing campaign. Most agreed that Obama wasn't on the top of his game (though one blogger says he "destroyed McCain" on both substance and style) but he kept his cool and did what he needed to do. Some conservative bloggers declared McCain the winner and said he "mopped the floor" with Obama. Others said that while McCain has better policies than Obama, he is simply not a good debater and, therefore, did not do what he needed to do last night to save his campaign.

Morning-After Ads

As has become customary in this election, both Obama and McCain released new ads this morning in the wake of last night's debate. McCain's ad explains how he's different from Bush, and Obama's ad explains how McCain is the same as Bush. Liberal bloggers say this theme benefits Obama and think McCain's ad "falls flat." Chris Cillizza says the Obama ad is "powerful stuff." A conservative blogger says McCain's ad is "wise" and thinks McCain needs to continue to distance himself from Bush.

—Gretchen Hannes