McCain Presses Obama in Final Debate

Senators Obama and McCain at the third 2008 U.S. Presidential debate, October 15, 2008, screengrab from CNN.

John McCain assailed Barack Obama's character and campaign positions on taxes, abortion and more Wednesday night, hoping to transform their final presidential debate into a launching pad for a political comeback. "You didn't tell the American people the truth," he charged.

Unruffled, and ahead in the polls, Obama parried each accusation, and leveled a few of his own.

"One hundred percent, John, of your ads, 100 percent of them have been negative," Obama shot back in an uncommonly personal debate less than three weeks from Election Day.

"It's not true," McCain retorted.

"It absolutely is true," said Obama, seeking the last word.

(text by BETH FOUHY, Associated Press)

Later Obama said: "I don't mind being attacked for the next three weeks. What the American people can't afford is four more years of failed economic policies."

McCain proclaimed, "I am not President Bush"

Admitting that McCain had his differences with President Bush, Obama replied, “The fact of the matter is that if I occasionally mistake your policies for George Bush’s policies, it’s because on the core economic issues that matter to the American people — on tax policy, on energy policy, on spending priorities — you have been a vigorous supporter of President Bush.”

The debate put on display the different temperaments of the candidates. The takeaway image may well be the split screen of Obama's unshakable demeanor, and McCain's pensiveness.