The Winner and Still Champion …

Clearly the winner, and still champion, in this presidential contest is Sen. Barack Obama. Sen. McCain threw everything at Obama tonight (including the kitchen sink) and nothing seemed to stick. McCain clearly seemed unable to change the minds of the uncommitted voters featured on CNN’s instant dial poll.

With 19 days to go it would been dangerous for any progressive to take this election for granted — though God only knows why after 8 years of George W. Bush it hasn’t been an absolute runaway for the Democrats. In politics a week can be a lifetime.

That said, the CNN debate team outlined just how difficult it would be for John McCain to win. He literally would have to win EVERY toss-up state, and then some. Winning all the current states too close to call still has McCain short of the 270 electoral college votes needed to win.

So keep pushing! It's only 19 days until election day!