By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

Voters have flocked to Barack Obama's side since Friday's debate. On Monday he held a suddenly resurgent lead of 50-42 percent over John McCain.

Obama's 50-percent reading ties his highest of the campaign.

That means Obama wiped out McCain's 3-point lead of just six days ago, with a full 11-point swing in Obama's favor.

Why?

Obama won the debate, at least in the minds of many Americans.

And McCain certainly looked anything but presidential in rushing off to Washington to help solve the bailout problems -- yet coming away with nothing to show for it over the weekend.