Sometimes it's best to just go read the ACTUAL liberal media ...
I came across this UK Guardian article by way of the Mahablog, and it sums up what I've been feeling. The whole thing is good, but as a teaser, here's the abridged version (emphasis mine, as usual):
Pssst. Don't spread it around too much, because there's still a month to go and I don't want to jinx things - but substance is in this year ...
... One-liners, aggression and emotive warmth are supposed to win these contests, we are told, and they usually do. But literally every poll I've seen shows that voters think Obama and Biden - who were direct and substantive and between them barely said one zingy or folksy thing - won the debates, and handily so.
The Republicans can't win on substance. Most of their positions are too unpopular. They know this, and this is why they lie, like Palin did during her debate... [etc. etc. read the original article for details...].
... So in this closing month, they will do what they know how to do. Republican operatives told the Washington Post last Saturday that they will spend the remaining days attacking Obama's character and past associations. Meanwhile, independent conservative groups are bound to spread all manner of disinformation - about how al-Qaida wants Obama to win and how, if the Democrats capture the White House, they'll outlaw the Ten Commandments.