On Friday night at the University of Mississippi, Senators John McCain and Barack Obama squared off on the economy and foreign policy in the first of three presidential debates. No third party candidate was invited to participate. Senator Barack Obama tied the current economic crisis to the Republican Party’s economic views.

Sen. Barack Obama: “Now, we also have to recognize that this is a final verdict on eight years of failed economic policies promoted by George Bush, supported by Senator McCain, a theory that basically says that we can shred regulations and consumer protections and give more and more to the most, and somehow prosperity will trickle down. It hasn’t worked. And I think that the fundamentals of the economy have to be measured by whether or not the middle class is getting a fair shake.”

During the debate, Obama referenced President Bush ten times. McCain never said Bush’s name. When asked about the economic crisis, John McCain called for a sweeping spending freeze.

Sen. John McCain: “How about a spending freeze on everything but defense, veteran affairs and entitlement programs.”

Jim Lehrer: “Spending freeze?”

McCain: “I think we ought to seriously consider, with the exceptions of caring for our veterans, national defense and several other vital issues.”