Not everybody agreed on who won. But three public-speaking experts assessed last night's face-off between presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama for The Salem News. All agreed that it was close.

"I would give the edge to Obama," said Jonathan Peele, director of debate and speech at Manchester Essex Regional High School. "He maintained his poise better. I think they both gave good answers."

Peele is voting for Obama.

"McCain is much more direct," said Gail Burke of Beverly Toastmasters, an international organization that helps people with public speaking. "I think they're both good speakers."

Burke is voting for McCain.

"The town hall forum is McCain's strength," said Judi Puritz Cook, chairwoman of the communications department at Salem State. "But McCain came across as frail. I heard some wheezing on his microphone. I wonder how that came across."

Cook is voting for Obama.

The three were asked to judge the candidates based less on what they said than how they said it. "(Obama's) responses to the attacks of Sen. McCain were more compelling," said Peele, a recent transplant from North Carolina.

"Obama did a good job of maintaining his composure," he said. "McCain did not seem to command the stage."

McCain seemed less adept at refuting what Obama said. "I don't think McCain is a bad debater," Peele said. "... He probably lost a close debate."

McCain was probably more animated in a forum that unfortunately seemed to discourage it, Burke said.

"Particularly when he was talking about the military," she said, noting his handshake with a former Navy man in the audience.

"McCain is a stronger candidate," she continued, "and seems much more believable than Obama."

Burke agreed that the forum is suited to McCain. "But not the way it was run tonight." She praised his opponent's speaking style: "Obama is very smooth."

"Obama's plans seemed a little more detailed," said Cook, and McCain lost some style points with her. "Some of the jokes fell flat," she said, pointing to a McCain quip about hair plugs that brought little response. The Arizonan's repeated use of the phrase "my friends" got to be off-putting, she added.

However, it wasn't all low marks.

"In general," Cook said, "both were well-prepared."

All three experts had complaints about the format.

"I think you saw them both struggling with the time limits," said Peele. "Nobody has long-form debates anymore," he lamented.

Burke faulted moderator Tom Brokaw's choice of questions, complaining that so much of the night was devoted to the economy. "Unfortunately, the war on terror doesn't get as much attention as it used to. ... I wish they had more of an opportunity to go back and forth."

"I was aware when they were going over the time limit," said Cook. "It bothered me. ... It felt kind of stressful."