Romney won, I'm pretty sure about that. But I'm not at all sure it'll matter that much. It's not like the president disqualified himself.

Three thoughts:

1) if the jobs report Friday is really bad, this becomes a much bigger deal

2) I would be shocked if Obama isn't better in the next two

3) Romney is much, much smarter than W. was

wished obama asked him to describe the amount of money a middle class family makes.

TenuredVulture wrote:Brooks saying too many specifics. Undecideds won't know what to make of it. Too substantial.

I agree. I honestly don't really know what either proposed. It was confusing with them cutting off Lehrer and eachother.

TenuredVulture wrote:To me, the interesting thing was how much Romney was running away from some of his basic campaign themes. No tax cuts for the rich? Really? We need regulation?

first time he's said those things and the pres whiffed on it

MSNBC is having a total meltdown

ABC News crew says Romney won easy

I think it would be hard to argue that Romney did not "win" the debate tonight. Obama, especially early on, really seemed to be searching for answers pretty much all night. Romney seemed much more on top of the facts than Obama was. Jim Lehrer was awful. Four "optical" things that Obama needs to improve on: (i) quit with the pregnant pauses; (ii) stop looking down while Romney is talking, look at Romney; (iii) stop looking at the moderator, it looks like you are hoping he will save you; (iv) quit with the smirking and smiling when Romney says something you disagree with.

I think the CNBC folks are speaking 100% truth here. Obama looked tired. I think he really needs to kill it in the town hall debate. Round One to Romney (and I am voting Obama).

Youseff wrote:Romney clearly won by pivoting very, very hard to the center tonight. This is the first time he's seemed like a moderate in about 8 years. Who is the real Mitt Romney?

That's a point that needs to be made in the next debate. Actually, that'd be something good for Biden to hit in the VP debate, he's a better attack dog than Obama anyway.

cshort wrote:

Woody wrote:DEVASTATING CUTS to military spending

Depends how you look at it. Done by % of GDP, the differences aren't as extreme.

Or if you do it by number of missles that could wipe out the world's population we're pretty high up there.

Basically I think the problem is this: Obama has only one speaking tone down - magisterial. When he's asked to do something that requires something else, like a debate, he kind of falls apart.

Also, Romney told about a dozen distortions/lies tonight and loudly licked his lips about 30 times (no exaggeration). My hope is that gets addressed by the zeitgeist before we define this debate.

romney had like a 20 page paper in front of him. Obama needs one of those and corner into him into his lies with specific quotes/times/places. his support team really let him down

I think Romney is going to be within a point by Thursday next week.

mcare89 wrote:

Youseff wrote:Romney clearly won by pivoting very, very hard to the center tonight. This is the first time he's seemed like a moderate in about 8 years. Who is the real Mitt Romney?

That's a point that needs to be made in the next debate. Actually, that'd be something good for Biden to hit in the VP debate, he's a better attack dog than Obama anyway.

First debate is the only one that even sort of matters.

The Nightman Cometh wrote:I think Romney is going to be within a point by Thursday next week.

nope

mozartpc27 wrote:

mcare89 wrote:

Youseff wrote:Romney clearly won by pivoting very, very hard to the center tonight. This is the first time he's seemed like a moderate in about 8 years. Who is the real Mitt Romney?

That's a point that needs to be made in the next debate. Actually, that'd be something good for Biden to hit in the VP debate, he's a better attack dog than Obama anyway.

First debate is the only one that even sort of matters.

Which is why Kerry got elected?

mozartpc27 wrote:

mcare89 wrote:

Youseff wrote:Romney clearly won by pivoting very, very hard to the center tonight. This is the first time he's seemed like a moderate in about 8 years. Who is the real Mitt Romney?

That's a point that needs to be made in the next debate. Actually, that'd be something good for Biden to hit in the VP debate, he's a better attack dog than Obama anyway.

First debate is the only one that even sort of matters.

Totally disagree. We're still a month away from the election.

Seems like the strategy from Obama should be simple. Take Mitt's quote from tonight about actually caring about people, add the "I'll never convince them to take personal responsibility for their lives", make ad.

Romney won, Obama playing not to lose, trying to run out the clock. However, I don't know if Romney actually persuaded any voters who weren't already voting for him.

philliesphhan wrote:

jerseyhoya wrote:Maddow blaming Lehrer. Whining about time of possession. I LOVE it.

Obama had 4 more minutes than Romney on the night.

That's how you know he lost.

Obama was mumbling and meandering. Romney was sharp. Outdid every expectation I had. Wow.

Serious question: do you even like Romney? I've always thought he's been good at public speaking. You make it seem like a retard just outsmarted a college grad.

He beat the sitting president tonight, handily. I like him. I am really quite happy.