DURHAM--Political analysts gathered at a debate forum proclaimed "Joe the plumber" the star of the last presidential debate.

The analysts also said that McCain had his best debate performance in the first half of the debate.

"The winner tonight is clearly Joe the plumber," Steve Marchand, former mayor of Portsmouth, told the crowd.

Rich Killion, a Republican consultant, said that McCain used the "Joe the plumber" line because the Arizona Senator wanted to appeal to middle-class voters.

"Joe the plumber was the start but John McCain made him a star," Killion said. "When he made that comment there were a lot of laughs in this room but he made that comment not for people in Durham but for people in Dayton, Ohio."

Andy Smith called McCain "engaged" but doubted that the debate will change the race.

"We saw a John McCain much more engaged and animated but nothing that will change the race for the next three weeks," said Smith, director of the UNH Survey Center.