Even if McCain made more points and left a generally better impression with the audience than Obama, and I'm not saying he did, Obama won. The appearance with and the cordial treatment by Rick Warren made Obama look like someone at least some evangelicals could vote for. The Religious right leaders of the past would have never given Obama a neutral platform to answer questions in; they simply tried to demonize the candidate they disagreed with.

Can you see Jerry Falwell giving Al Gore a forum like this?

Here's the wrap-up in the NYTimes,