With 26 days until the presidential election, Senators Barack Obama and John McCain once again took the stage to discuss domestic affairs and foreign policies.

Tuesday’s debate, the second of three, took place at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. in a town hall format. The debate focused primarily on the state of the economy and the “rescue” bill which recently passed in the Senate.

College Democrats president Tony Wadas acknowledged that the winner of the debate, and eventually the winner of the election, would need to have a strong hold on the state of the economy.

For Wadas, Sen. Obama was the clear victor.

“I think Barack Obama definitely won the debate,” Wadas said. “He displayed that he had a better understanding of the issues facing our country, especially the economic crisis. Obama seems to show a deeper understanding of all the issues facing us.”

College Republicans chairman Andrew Bogda felt otherwise. He said McCain’s plan to cut taxes nationwide gave him the nod over Obama.

“I thought Sen. McCain did an excellent job, and I think he clearly demonstrated that he’s better equipped to be president,” Bogda said. “McCain … proved that he’s the one who will cut taxes for all Americans and all businesses while Obama plans to only cut taxes for certain individuals and no businesses.”

Ferald Bryan, political expert and associate professor of communication, felt both Obama and McCain were disadvantaged by the debate’s timid pacing, but benefitted from the more intimate format.

“As I listened, I think that they were very even,” Bryan said. “It really comes out, in my mind, as a draw.”

Bryan said while each candidate performed better than their first encounter on Sept. 26, more needs to be done for next week’s debate, which will be held at 8 p.m. Oct. 15 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y.

“I think the tone will need to pick up,” Bryan said. “I’m not suggesting they need to attack each other, but I think they need to make the distinctions between the two of them as bold as possible.”