@Berger,
I'd vote for an older guy too, if all other things were equal--but they are not. In this case, the older guy has no more executive experience than the younger guy, and, in the last week alone, he has shown us that, in a time of national crisis with the economy, his judgments have been hasty, impulsive, and inconsistent, and his understanding of the gravity of the situation was off the mark ("the underlying fundamentals of the economy are strong"). Not exactly what one wants in a president. Certainly not what one wants in a Commander-in-Chief.
The younger guy, on the other hand, was calm, confident, intelligent, consistent, thoughtful, reflective, and demonstrated a firm in-depth grasp of the issues. He supported the government's emergency actions to stabilize the economy and called for bipartisan and international cooperation--unity--in resolving the current economic problems. He offered government proposals to help the average taxpayer cope with the present economic difficulties, and long range proposals to address the underlying problems that led to our economic crisis. He demonstrated leadership ability and a presidential and statesman-like manner of addressing serious national problems.
You don't have to wonder how either of these men would react to a national crisis if they were president--they both just showed you how they react this past week during a time of very serious domestic crisis.
If you want an old guy who flounders, is inconsistent, and who just plain has trouble grasping the big picture, and who couldn't reassure anybody about anything, let alone inspire condidence, then vote for McCain. Being old does not mean you are an effective or experienced leader. McCain just proved that.
If you want someone who can take charge, seek out the best advisors (in this case a stable of top economists), fully comprehend the issues, formulate reasoned and considered judgments, and who demonstates the leadership and wisdom to bring people together, rather than divisively drive them apart, at a time of national crisis, then vote for Obama.