The reviews

Nate Silver looks at the CNN poll taken after the debate and the results are very, very good.

EDIT: The CBS poll of undecideds has more confirmatory detail. Obama went from a +18 on "understanding your needs and problems" before the debate to a +56 (!) afterward. And he went from a -9 on "prepared to be president" to a +21.

I have to admit, after the debate I thought Obama had won on points, but not by much. But I'm thoroughly familiar with Barack Obama; I expected him to perform well, be presidential, convey...get-it-ness, if you will. It came as more of a surprise to people really paying attention for the first time, maybe. Expected him to come out carrying a latte quivering before the power of McCain's superior foreign policy gravitas.