Candidates Score in Pastor Rick-a-thon

Even in a non-debate, pundits still find a way to label somebody a winner

By Katherine Thompson, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 17, 2008 12:43 PM CDT

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Candidates Score in Pastor Rick-a-thon — Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., talks during a non-debate forum moderated by Pastor Rick Warren at the Saddleback Church. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

Pastor Rick stressed that last night's Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency wasn't a debate, but that won't stop the pundits from deciding who came out ahead:

Byron York, of the National Review, sees the night as a big win for McCain, who's had a "much bigger life."

Mike Madden, writing in Salon, found Obama to be "on his game" and quite comfortable talking about his faith, while McCain also acquitted himself well.
Mark Halperin's grades of the two candidates don't show much variation: the two men alternate A- and B+ in various categories, and both average an A-.

(Read more Election 2008 stories.)

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