Minnesotans of all political stripes congregated at house parties, restaurants and community centers throughout suburban Minneapolis to watch Senators McCain and Obama squabble over foreign policy issues and offer solutions to the financial crisis looming over this year’s election.

“It’s still a draw for me,” said Mark Johnson, who described himself as a Libertarian who has decided to vote for a major candidate this year because Minnesota is a battleground state. “It was useful and informative, but there were no big surprises,, ” he said of the debate, the first of three the presidential candidates will hold between now and October 15.

In recent weeks, polls have shown Obama pulling ahead in Minnesota, which went Democratic in 2000 and 2004. But the toss-up race for an open seat here in the state’s 3rd Congressional District offers a window on the battle both campaigns are waging for the votes of moderates and independents like Johnson.

The seat in this affluent suburb of Minneapolis has been held by the GOP since 1961, and Rep. Jim Ramstad, a moderate Republican, is vacating it after 18 years in Congress. Erik Paulsen, a former majority leader for the GOP in the Minnesota House of Representatives, and Democratic newcomer and Iraq war veteran, Ashwin Madia are vying to replace him.

Some of Madia’s supporters were among the 250 people who joined the Veterans for Obama at the Hopkins VFW, 10 miles east of downtown Minneapolis, to cheer on the Democratic candidate and hiss at his Republican foe.

Bill Cochrane, who was awarded a Purple Heart for his heroics in the Vietnam War, said his support for Obama was shored up in the debate.

“I was skeptical of Obama and I still don’t know him,” said the veteran once a  faithful Republican, who voted twice for George H.W. Bush. “In this debate he appeared to be the real deal. I am leaving here with a higher confidence that he can lead our country.”

Across town in Brooklyn Park, Tom and Kelly Gildow watched the debate with some close friends and family. Their middle income neighborhood launched former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura’s political career by electing the one time wrestler mayor in 1990.

Kelly Gildow, a Republican, said she will vote for McCain in November because he is “no nonsense” on national security and won’t raise taxes.

“He slam dunked the foreign policy issues. It’s hard to believe anything Obama said because of the lack of experience,” she said. “When Obama was talking about attacking Pakistan, I thought, wow, he showed how frightening it would be to have our national security in his hands.”

Supporters of both candidates claimed their man best addressed the nation’s economic concerns, but tended to agree that no one delivered a knock-out punch.

“It was like a fight when a guy is constantly jabbing you, he isn’t hit with a big blow, but he is making you feel uncomfortable,” said Republican Bill Ferguson, handing McCain the victory by decision.