It could have been a disaster. Barack Obama had wandered smack dab in the middle of a raucous pool game, eight Iraq war vets hooting and howling with each shot. The back room at Whistle’s sports bar in Scranton, PA was buzzing, and these young soldiers were quick to reel him into the action.

“Who’s up?” he asked.

“You are,” was the immediate response, and a pool cue was quickly shoved in his hand. It’s the stuff that potential political blunders are made of. The Senator eyed the table, pacing it like a pro, before leaning over.

“Three ball,” he said, lining up his shot.

So what happened? See for yourself.

Head to MTVNews.com to meet Obama’s pool partners and hear their stories from Iraq, plus check out “Choose or Lose Presents Clinton & Obama Answer Young Veterans” on Thursday at 6 p.m. ET on MTV, MTV2, mtvU, MTV Tr3s, MTV Hits or MTV Jams.