Pre-Debate: What To Look For Tonight
1) On Tuesday, Romney had perhaps his best day of polling to date. The Gallup tracking poll showed Romney leading President Obama 50-46% nationwide, including 50-47% in swing states. A national poll conducted by the liberal Daily Kos showed an identical 50-46 lead, while Rasmussen Reports saw Romney with a 49-47% lead. Clearly another knockout punch would be what Romney is something Romney would like in order to cement his lead, but even a tie doesn't hurt. Romney changed how people saw him in the first debate, and what is key is he doesn't say something that gives them a reason to change their mind.
2) Is the Obama camp in panic mode? After the first debate, the Obama campaign dropped every possible excuse as to why Obama did so poorly (Al Gore suggested the "altitude" was a problem). But Obama's big problem tonight is expectations. After dropping every excuse for his loss in the first debate, the campaign (and media) have spent the last 2 weeks setting the stage for the "real Obama." Of course, what if Debate #1 Obama is the real Obama? Obama is no Bill Clinton. He has spent 4 years either speaking from a teleprompter or hanging out on friendly chat shows. He hasn't been challenged until now.
3) Does a town-hall debate favor Romney or Obama? If you listen to the media, the town-hall debate is better suited to Obama. In the eyes of the MSM, Romney is still out-of-touch and hard to relate with. But I disagree. Romney spent years in his church working with people, helping people, and not using them as a stepping stone. Yes, Obama was a "community organizer" but every action suggests it was more of a stepping stone in his political careers than a true passion. If the expectations are that Romney can't relate, but Obama can, then voters may be in for another shocker tonight.
4) Be Aggressive? In the first debate, Romney's performance was brilliant on many levels. At one point while answering a question about Medicare, he answered it and then proceeded to rebut and dismiss what he knew was going to be Obama's response. It was a brilliant move that left Obama nodding his head in agreement and being unable to make that point himself. The Obama campaign hinted that Romney was "too nice" in the first debate. That suggests that Obama is going to be "not nice" this debate. It remains to be seen whether or town hall format is a good place to be overly aggressive. Obama is in a tough spot: He is at risk of either repeating his performance from the first debate, or going totally off the deep-end like Joe Biden. (And also, no way Romney would let him get way with cutting him off repeatedly, which was Ryan's one mistake.)
5) A Moderator controversy? Unlike others, I'm not too concerned about the level of involvement Candy Crowley plans to make. Yes, the questions are going to be coming from people in the crowd, but honestly they are the same questions everyone wants asked anyway (supposedly). Jim Lehrer did a good job in the first debate and let the two candidates do most of the talking. In the VP debate, Martha Raddatz had no control over the debate, allowed one participant to continuously interrupt, and interrupted Paul Ryan herself repeatedly. If Crowley wants to ask aggressive follow-ups because the candidate has dodged, that is not a problem. But hopefully talking points won't become part of the questioning or the follow-ups.
Comments
Romney sure looks and sounds like the Leader we need for the next four years.
Look at it this way. This election is about jobs and small business. Romney built a $250 million fortune and created many jobs in the private sector. That’s not an easy task.
What business qualifications does Obama have? None.
He had his 4 years, where’s the change?
Romney won this debate hands down, he is the best chance to make this country grate again!
Romney resonated with me. He has my vote.
Obama’s next decision should be what moving company to go with because he will not be here another four years great job again mitt
I totally agree! Romney is the true leader we need. Obama did not directly answer any question. I hope America realizes the only ” change” we got over these four years is the coins we have left in our pockets. We need a man who has a proven track record, not someone who continues to use our hard earned dollars to continue funding lazy able bodied slackers… Just as FDR did, With the exception of our veterans and elderly let them clean up the streets, or beaches, harvest crops, do something for that welfare check … 47 million… Seriously now that’s our money. Vote Romney and help save us all!
Mitt Romney is the real deal….Thank God we have a choice!!!!!
…Betty, you got that one right ON!!
I certainly agree that Romney looks like the president we need for the next 4 years. Obama had his chance and hasn’t seemed to get done what we need, we need him out, we need a change.
Obama did little in the town hall debate to slow the momentum Romney has gained in swing states, women and Independents. Romney was surprisingly comfortable in the debate, and remained on message about the poor economy, jobs and actively recruiting women when applications by qualified women were low in his state. I look forward to continued momentum by Romney and the abysmal record of Obama being questioned. I cannot think that a lot of the 23 million unemployed, underemployed of stopped looking folks are going to give Obama credit for much of anything he did for them. Women now know that Romney has only one head and will work for them as well as everyone else. Voters really believe Romney can improve the economy and Obama has failed miserably to do so. There is a clear choice, and despite the rather uneven moderation of the debates, Romney did just fine and is the better candidate to do what Obama could not, and did not do. Obama seems to want 4 more years to further mess up what he has done to date, spend money, run up the deficit, not create a job-friendly situation, overregulate businesses and penalize those who actually work and pay taxes. Romney offers hope and the change we need.
I watched the debate twice and I personally thought the President did better in the town hall debate than Gov. Romney. I generally vote more conservative; however, I really can’t get past some Gov. Romney’s lack of consistancy. I’ll probably vote for the independant canidate.