Presidential Debate highlights

Meltdown culprits

"The biggest problem in this whole process was the deregulation of the financial system." Obama

"One of the real catalysts, really the match that lit this fire ... was Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae." McCain

One voter thinks otherwise: "How can we trust either of you with our money when both parties got us into this global economic crisis?" Audience member

Meltdown solution

"Until we stabilize home values in America we are never going to be able to start turning this around and creating jobs... I know how to get America working again." McCain

"You need somebody working for you and you have to have someone in Washington who is thinking about the middle class and not just those who can afford to hire lobbyists." Obama

Feeling your pain

"Americans are angry, they are upset and they are a little fearful. And it is our job to fix this problem." McCain

"Part of the problem here is that for many of you wages and incomes have flat lined." Obama

Moderating mayhem

Tom Brokaw:

"May I remind you we are operating under rules here that you signed."

"I'm trying to play by the rules as you all established."

"I want to just remind you one more time about time."

On future sacrifices:

"I'm going to ask the American people to understand that there are some programs we may have to eliminate." McCain

"There is going to be a need for each and every one of us to start thinking about how we use energy." Obama

I'm not fighting, he's fighting:

"You are not interested in hearing politicians point figures." Obama

"I know you get a little weary of this back and forth." McCain

Iraq attack:

"Sen. Obama was wrong about the surge... He does not understand our national security issue." McCain

"There are some things I don't understand ... I don't understand how we invaded a country that had nothing to do with 911. That was Senator McCain's judgment." Obama

Parting Words

"We are going to have to have the courage, the sacrifice and the nerve to move in a new direction." Obama

"I will rest on my record, but I'm also going to tell you when the times are tough we need a strong hand at the tiller." McCain

"You are in the way of my script there..." Brokaw