Before Ole Miss hit the Swamp on Saturday, presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain took the stage in the Rebels' territory at the University of Mississippi for their first presidential debate.
Although supporters said they called Friday's debate in favor of their own candidates, experts said it was a draw.
"No one won the debate," said Michael Heaney, an assistant professor of political science at UF.
He said both candidates showed they were qualified to be president during the debate, which covered foreign policy and national security and how the topics connected to the global financial crisis.
"Each candidate took a couple pawns from their opponent," Heaney said. "But nobody took the other's queen."
Daniel A. Smith, a UF associate professor of political science, said he didn't think the debate would affect the polls.
But because McCain was expected to make a stronger showing on foreign policy, a draw may have seemed more favorable to Obama, Smith said.
"This should have been John McCain's night to talk about his foreign policy experience," he said. "I think Obama held his own."
The candidates' supporters said they believed the winner of the debate was clear - but disagreed on who it was.
Heaney said it's difficult to choose a winner of a single debate until all three have occurred.
The candidates will also debate in a town hall setting Oct. 7 and on domestic policy Oct. 15.
"This is not about winning a debate," Heaney said. "This is about winning an election."
