By Susan Redden

sredden@joplinglobe.com

Neither candidate landed the definitive “knockout punch” in the first presidential debate on Friday, according to four Joplin-area residents.

Both candidates performed well, said residents contacted after watching the 90-minute exchange that focused on foreign policy and national security.

But two debate watchers who favor John McCain said answers from the Republican candidate demonstrated his years of experience.

The two others, who support Barack Obama, said he did perform well in an arena where he was predicted to be lacking.

“I felt like McCain was speaking out of his knowledge,” said Buck Derryberry, of Oronogo. “You could tell he lived that stuff. But, I think Obama was well-prepared. I expected him to struggle without a TelePrompTer, but he didn’t.”

David Smith, of Joplin, said he believed Obama’s answers demonstrated an understanding of international affairs.

“He had a higher bar to clear, but I think the coherence of his answers made him the winner,” he said. “The McCain campaign kept saying he only speaks well with a TelePrompTer: I bet they wish they hadn’t said that now.”

McCain’s grasp of international affairs demonstrates he would be the better leader, said Ray Downen, of Joplin.

“There’s no question in my mind he has the experience to be the better president,” he said.

“But, I didn’t feel Obama showed any lack of capability.”

Judith Dixon, of Joplin, said she saw no clear winner or loser from the debate.

“McCain was good about talking about what he had done in the past; he definitely pointed out his experience,” she said. “But you could tell that Obama knew what he was talking about.”

Smith said Obama’s answers demonstrated a broader and deeper grasp of international affairs, “and how so much of it is inter-related, and you have to address the system as well as the parts.