Reaction to the Third Presidential Debate: No Knockout; Romney Wins with Optimism and an Agenda for the Future – 10/22/12
The final Presidential debate of 2012 has ended, and there is no question but that Gov. Mitt Romney did more than hold his own on Foreign Policy with Barack Obama, and he actually came off looking far more Presidential.
Watch the Final 2012 Presidential Debate
Mitt Romney refused to let Barack Obama define him tonight – which is what Obama’s game plan was. Obama wanted to scare American voters into thinking Romney would be dangerous as President – that he would be a warmonger. Romney refused to let that happen. Instead, Romney defined himself, and Barack Obama was clearly exasperated about it throughout the debate. It especially showed at the end. Mitt Romney held his own and did what he had to for 1 hr. and 15 minutes in this debate. But he won the debate in the last 15 minutes. Romney turned to Obama and destroyed him by looking him in the eye and laying out why his Presidency has been a total failure. Romney’s closing statement was tremendous. It was optimistic and positive. Romney projected a can-do spirit and a belief that the future can be brighter than the past. Nothing Barack Obama said or did tonight would lead Americans to believe the next four years will be any different than the past four years. You know with Mitt Romney, the future will be different. He knows how to turn the economy around, and he made the stark contrast with Barack Obama crystal clear tonight.
One other person who won tonight was the moderator, Bob Schieffer. He did a good job, not making himself the story. Overall, the debates were a tremendous benefit for Mitt Romney. The first debate turned the campaign around, and Romney confirmed himself ready to be President, with an agenda for the future in the final two debates.
I’ll post some of the reaction on Twitter (Twitter is having some problems with their embed feature right now):
The very same pundits who insist O won on pts last time say same here. But R tilt continued w/out interruption last time..#theyneverlearn
— Jennifer Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) October 23, 2012
RT @samfeistcnn: CNN poll of debate watchers: Who did debate make you more likely to vote for? Obama 24%, Romney 25%, Neither 50%.
— Andrew Kaczynski (@BuzzFeedAndrew) October 23, 2012
Krauthammer: “Romney went large. Obama went very, very small – shockingly small”
— MARK SIMONE (@MarkSimoneNY) October 23, 2012
per CNN email, “no clear winner of debate, according to CNN/ORC International Poll…Debate viewers split 48% for Obama,40% forRomney
— Mike Allen (@mikeallen) October 23, 2012
Team @barackobama sees final #CNNdebate Dem intensity boost and indy appeal; @mittromney aides say end debates w/ parity and momentum.
— John King (@JohnKingCNN) October 23, 2012
Mark Halperin IS the Narrative — he scores it a tie –>ti.me/Tc9Z2
— John Nolte(@NolteNC) October 23, 2012
Analysis: Romney Keeps Command abcn.ws/VxzazH
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) October 23, 2012
The facts on bayonets and horses, in today’s armed forces on.wsj.com/OXYzid via @julianbarnes
— WSJ Washington Wire (@WSJwashington) October 23, 2012
Romney denies Obama chance to paint him as “Bush on steroids” bit.ly/WF6Fzn
— David Freddoso (@freddoso) October 23, 2012
David Gergen on Romney: ‘He Passed The Commander-In-Chief Test’ nation.foxnews.com/2012-president…
— Fox Nation (@foxnation) October 23, 2012
