Robert Gleason

The presidential candidates had barely left the stage of their first debate Friday night when their respective campaigns and surrogates tried to claim victory.

Below are statements from local insiders on the debate.

Gov. Ed Rendell (D):

"First, Barack Obama showed that he is guided by the right principles when it comes to the financial bailout. And he showed the same steady and precise attitude toward foreign policy in tonight’s debate that he showed this week in the negotiations over the financial bailout plan. Our national security and place in the world depends in large part on our economic security here at home, and based on what we just saw, it’s clearer than ever that Barack Obama is the candidate to lead us back to the prosperity and respect that eight years of Bush-McCain policies destroyed."

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D):

"What we heard tonight from Senator McCain was more of the same failed foreign policies of President Bush.  As President, Barack Obama will focus on the central front in the war on terror: Afghanistan and Pakistan, not Iraq."

Former Gov. Tom Ridge (R):

"John McCain has always risen above politics to get things done. He displayed this not only tonight, but also in his response this week to the economic crisis that continues to affect every American family. Now, more than ever, our country needs a proven leader and patriot who will accept and confront the challenges we face at home and abroad. Tonight, the American people saw the very clear reasons why that leader is John McCain."

State GOP Chair Robert Gleason:

"Clearly, Barack Obama does not understand what it will take to keep our country safe on an increasing volatile world climate. John McCain, an American war hero, has a solid grasp of foreign policy matters and understands the naivety surrounding Barack Obama’s assertion that, if elected our next United States President, he would meet with our nation’s enemies, like the radical Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. John McCain understands that protecting our country is paramount and is not willing to subscribe to the risky strategies that Obama would employ."

Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Robert A. Gleason, Jr. remarked that Pennsylvanians will truly be ‘bitter’ if Democrat Presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton get their way and raise the capital gains tax.