Frank Donatelli watched Friday night’s presidential debate like many Americans. And the deputy chairman of the Republican National Committee believes many Americans ended the night with the same conclusion.

That John McCain better commanded the facts.

“You had one candidate who was competent in terms of memorizing something out of a briefing book,” Mr. Donatelli said. “You had another candidate who actually lived many of the things he was talking about.”

The national GOP official spoke to about 30 people at Buchanan County Republican Headquarters Saturday night, the last stop of a two-day Victory ’08 Bus Tour of Missouri.

Along with an analysis of the previous night’s debate, the native Pennsylvanian and adviser to Republican presidents dating to the Reagan administration praised Mr. McCain for his leadership and his willingness to cross party lines.

Mr. Donatelli defended the Republican nominee’s decision last week to suspend his campaign and travel to Washington to take part on financial bailout discussions.

“Sen. McCain has done what he has always tried to do as a legislator, and that is bring people together,” he said. “It’s the difference between making speeches and actually leading.”

The GOP guest also said the party had identified enough McCain voters to win the election and praised the senator’s selection of Sarah Palin — “the perfect partner” — as his running mate.

Missouri Democrats had less charitable things to say about Mr. Donatelli, whom they condemned for his former job as an Exxon Mobil lobbyist.

“Seven of John McCain’s top advisers are lobbyists for big oil, foreign countries and powerful corporations,” said Jack Cardetti, Missouri Democratic Party spokesman in a statement. “Missourians don’t want special interests running our country.”

Mr. Donatelli commended the McCain field operation in Missouri and said the candidate would return to the battleground state.

“If you have a message that resonates in Missouri, chances are it resonates in other parts of the country,” he said. “McCain’s views on the issues — on taxes, on energy and on foreign policy — are closer to the average Missouri voter than the other guy’s.”

Ken Newton can be reached at kenn@npgco.com.