His to lose

Leaving Saddleback and heading to Minneapolis, John McCain polls—and pulls—for evangelical vote | Joel Belz

Associated Press/Photo by Mary Altaffer

LAKE FOREST, Calif.—"By Monday morning, everything'll be back to normal here at Saddleback."

Fat chance. The prediction was pastor Rick Warren's promise to me and the other 9,999 people who showed up for worship at Saddleback Church the morning after its nationally televised forum of presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain. Getting everything back to normal, even at a church used to mega-events, would probably take a little longer this time.

Saddleback Church notwithstanding, what about the rest of the country? Did Saddleback's "Civil Forum on the Presidency" do anything to change the course of events between now and Election Day on Nov. 4? In a close election, even little things count, and here are some things to be looking for: