Online's Marc Pitzke writes:

"In the end, with this debate McCain -- in the absence of unforeseeable events -- has gambled away his best and perhaps last chance to halt Obama's climb. He fought back bravely -- and better than ever. But, the sum total was still not enough. All the subsequent flash polls crowned Obama as the debate's winner. Normally, such values are of fleeting importance. This time, however, they are decisive. The third debate in Hampstead on Long Island was considered the 'point of no return,' as even one of McCain's people in the press center said, though admittedly off the record."

"It was McCain's now-or-never moment: 19 days ahead of the election, he needed to take the helm."

The Financial Times Deutschland writes:

"McCain has also lost the last television debate against Barack Obama. The Republican US presidential candidate didn't succumb to the Democrats because he had worse arguments regarding the economy. ... In recent weeks Obama simply managed to evoke more confidence among the voters -- and confidence is tantamount to hard currency in times of crisis."

"It is curious that Obama may win the presidency on the basis of the economy of all things. After all, in his speeches across America the Democrat seems to be speaking to a country which no longer exists. ... Obama's program is a program of moderate wealth redistribution. A program with a feel-good factor. A program for an America which is not in the throes of a financial crisis."

"After the election a possible President Obama would have to react to the real America: a country with an enormous debt burden plus a costly bank rescue plan. A country in which there is not a lot left to redistribute."