Expectations

Ezra identifies another cause for the disconnect between my assessment of the debate and the reaction of the pundits and the public: I don't respect McCain's foreign policy skills because I don't think he has any. Therefore, I wasn't "surprised" when Obama "held his own" in a debate with McCain. I expected Obama to come off looking good by comparison because Obama's ideas are just so much more superior to McCain's.

But for those who really do believe in "McCain: foreign policy super star", holding par would be a surprise. A surprise to Obama's  benefit.