Reviewing the Second 2012 Presidential Debate: Mitt Romney Consistently Strong and More Presidential than a more Animated President Obama – 10/16/12
The second Presidential Debate of 2012 has just ended, and it was fiery throughout. The Town Hall format allowed Mitt Romney and President Obama to wander the stage and face each other in point-counterpoint fashion. President Obama was much more animated than he was in the first debate, but Mitt Romney was every bit as strong as he was in their first confrontation.
I’m confident the media will say Obama won the debate – they already had that script written before it began. But Mitt Romney was strong, consistent and came across as the man who not only can be President – but as the man who is already more Presidential. If you did not know Barack Obama was already President, you would think without question Mitt Romney is the President. He comes across as the person who actually knows how to get practical things done, as opposed to Obama, who so often sounded like a man who is running for President for the first time – not as a man who has failed for four years as President.
One thing is for sure. Mitt Romney did himself no harm, and should continue the momentum he has enjoyed since the first debate. On gas prices, job creation, tax policy, deficit reduction and many other issues, Mitt Romney was far superior in his answers, both in tone and in his ability to clearly explain what he would do about it. By contrast, Barack Obama did absolutely nothing to make anyone think the next four years will be any different than the last four years.
I think one phrase will stick in the minds of people from this debate: “We don’t have to settle.” Mitt Romney closed by telling Americans “we don’t have to settle” for the horrific economy, high gas prices, and all the other disasters of the Obama Economy. He’s right – we don’t have to settle. November 6 can start a new day for America.
I’ll post some of the reaction from Twitter below (Update – Twitter’s embed function is having trouble. If they get it fixed, I’ll post some reaction below):
FOURNIER: Obama Tries, But Only Ties… bit.ly/RzGO66 #tcot
— Drudge Report (@tweetdrudge) October 17, 2012
Gov. Bobby Jindal on Obama’s performance tonight: “I almost feel bad for him” #debates
— Michael Falcone (@michaelpfalcone) October 17, 2012
Watching focus group with neutral voters and Romney won the group.
— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) October 17, 2012
Luntz: Group “really swung [for Romney]…as significant as in Denver ten days ago.”
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) October 17, 2012
CBS News Poll: 65% thought Romney would do a better job on the economy (up from 71%); 34% said Pres Obama would (up from 27%).
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) October 17, 2012
Summary from @jhinderaker — A win on points for Romney. If you want to call it a draw, that won’t get O re-elected powerlineblog.com/archives/2012/…
— Power Line (@powerlineUS) October 17, 2012
Using the word “terror” does not mean you called Benghazi a terror attack. In fact, you refused to do so for weeks and blamed a video.
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) October 17, 2012
Re: CBS polls. 60%+ believed Romney won on the economy. 60%+ called it a tie/Romney win. May just be related.
— Patrick Ishmaél (@theIsh) October 17, 2012
Crowley: Romney was “right in the main” but “picked the wrong word.” bit.ly/Wl4jpg
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) October 17, 2012
#cnn poll has @barackobama scored as #debate winner but @mittromney gets higher marks on econ, hcare, taxes. So winning may not change much
— John King (@JohnKingCNN) October 17, 2012
RT @freddosoOn the question of whether this debate made you more likely to vote for one or the other, CNN snap poll had them tied at 25%.
— John McCormack (@McCormackJohn) October 17, 2012
Eat crow, Crowley==> And now: CNN walks back false “act of terror” fact check ==> is.gd/wW7gXR #townhalldebate
— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) October 17, 2012
@ingrahamangle CNNpoll- 58-40% Romney better on the economy 49-46% on healthcare, 51- 44% on taxes, & 59-36% on deficit. HE WON WHAT MATTERS
— James B Miller (@jamesbmiller) October 17, 2012
CNN Poll: “Who is seen to be a stronger leader? 49% said Governor Romney. 46% for President Obama”
— Justin Hart (@justin_hart) October 17, 2012
