Obama wins (by a mile)

Actually, by a significant mile.

In the subjective way we evaluate answers, Sen. Barrack Obama won the second presidential debate over Sen. John McCain:

Sen. Obama scored a total of 75 points, over Sen. McCain's 52 points, in the debate moderated by Tom Brokaw of NBC News, at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.

We use a subjective analysis, based on the ideas the candidates share, their ability to communicate simply and clearly, and their passion -- essentially, whether the ideas they expressed were true, emotional, and heartfelt, or whether they were coldly crafted in the campaign war room.

In essence, you score well if you have a clear idea, you express it clearly and coherently, and you believe it. Your answer is everything. If you do well, we are single-mindedly focused your message. We understand it. We aren't watching you trying to fabricate or manufacture a response.

We scored each candidate's principal answer (on a scale of 1-5, five being best), and we scored each follow-up answer (on a scale of 1-3, three being best).

Here's what we saw and assessed:

Fastest way to help people in the economic crisis?
Obama 5
McCain 4

What helps ordinary people most?
Obama 7
McCain 1

Can we trust either of you?
Obama 7
McCain 5

What must we sacrifice today for the future?
Obama 7
McCain 5

What about entitlements, social security and medicare?
Obama 5
McCain 1

What do we do about the environment and green jobs?
Obama 5
McCain 1

Is health care a commodity?
Obama 8
McCain 4

America as a peacemaker in the world?
Obama 8
McCain 5

Should we respect Pakistan's sovereignty?
Obama 8
McCain 5

Your Afghanistan plan?
Obama 3
McCain 3

Do we pressure Russia on humanitarian issues?
McCain 8
Obama 3

What happens if Iran attacks Israel?
McCain 5
Obama 4

What don't you know, and how will you learn it?
Obama 5
McCain 5

Sen. Obama's victory came from clear ideas, coherently expressed, naturally, and with conviction.

Sen. McCain's answers were somewhat unclear, and somewhat rambling. His conviction and passion, mostly solid and even, was diminished by sharing multiple talking points in a single answer, not coherently linked.

On foreign issues, however, Sen. McCain found his voice. He scored well, providing clear, coherent ideas, expressed with clarity and conviction.

Sen. Obama lacked those qualities in two of his foreign affairs answers.

Again, the tenor and tone of the debate was about fixing things that are wrong, dealing with tactical issues, and battling each other.

The real question remains. Who has the best vision for America?

Ultimately, that will be the test.