How many times did McCain say "my friends" last night and who was he referring to? I don't know McCain nor, I imagine, did anyone in the audience.

The "my friends" line might have been appropriate at a party fund-raiser or a rally but it had no place in a debate.

"Friends" was not meant to be taken literally here. I get that, but a majority of Americans like Obama better so the "my friends" line was more than just grating, it was condescending, it was patriarcal and rude. It was wrong.

I pick my friends with care, Senator, and I would never have a a lying, lobbyist owned, war monger like you as one so please don't use "my friends" anymore.

I think it's just a transition phrase, or a reliable place-holder in his stump speech. Sort of like "the fundamentals of our economy are strong" was up until two weeks ago.

Yea, I found it a bit overused last night too. But, I wasn't offended by it or anything. But, it did show his age. I cannot imagine someone under 40 using that phrase that way.

That phrase always did grate on me. It sounds like something a televangelist would say, which makes me instinctively check my wallet.

It's just a verbal tic. Everyone who has a job that requires speaking on a regular basis has them. McCain is generally OK as a speaker so it's not that big of a deal to me. In fact, his steady repetition of "my friends" was the only thing that kept me interested in watching. I made a game of counting how many times he said it. I may be wrong but I believe the total was 17.

My son said 17 too.

Many a drinking game was probably enjoyed over that phrase last night.