The key thing to remember is that the audience at the Saddleback Church was heavily disposed towards McCain, both demographically and ideologically. So while McCain did well (even though he annoyed the heck out me personally), it really wasn't much a challenge for him. I thought Barack Obama did just as well as McCain, and given the makeup of the audience, that's a remarkable achievement.
I also think McCain's firm answer on being pro-life will haunt him. There are so many people out there who believe John McCain is pro-choice, and this is the strongest video evidence yet showing that he's not just personally pro-life, but also committed to leading a pro-life presidency.
© Jed Lewison