[VRM]

Turnpike Boy,
I forgot to mention;
McCain is more comfortable in the town hall format than Obama. That gives him a BIG advantage. McCain had the stage at the GOP convention rebuilt so that he could be 'in' the crowd.
I agree that it would be nice to have both candidates go at it in formats that they were not as comfortable in. McCain didn't go for it to the extent that Obama wanted him to. I don't blame McCain at all. I think McCain would actually be weaker in Obamas favoured format that Obama would in McCains.
McCain has a devastating sense of humour that works well in the town hall format, but a lot of that is negated in a structured debate where Obama can use his better memory to throw obscure facts at McCain. McCains temper may also get the better of him when he feels like his countering remarks are not hitting home; and Obama will not react to McCains barbs nearly as much as a crowd will.