Obama v. Romney Debate Thread, Part III

[MarkGrace]

And by the way, in spite of all the hot air from both camps, the two candidates just aren't that different when it comes to foreign policy.

That's what all the talking heads seem to be saying right now. They all seem surprised by how much Mitt was agreeing with the Pres. I'm sure the strategy by Mitt was multi-faceted tonight, but it makes me wonder if part of it didn't have to do with just pushing voters back toward the economy. If I'm looking at two candidates that are differing on every single issue, that's a lot to process. If they look familiar on foreign policy, then I'm forced back to the differentiators, and that's the economy. And clearly they want people's minds there since its the ugliest part of Obama's record right now.

[CJF]

I think Obama did better (he is the CIC, after all), but clearly seems to insinuate blowout. Maybe i'm reading into that incorrectly.

Maybe not a blowout as big as the first debate, but it wasn't close.

[All-American]

That's what all the talking heads seem to be saying right now. They all seem surprised by how much Mitt was agreeing with the Pres. I'm sure the strategy by Mitt was multi-faceted tonight, but it makes me wonder if part of it didn't have to do with just pushing voters back toward the economy. If I'm looking at two candidates that are differing on every single issue, that's a lot to process. If they look familiar on foreign policy, then I'm forced back to the differentiators, and that's the economy. And clearly they want people's minds there since its the ugliest part of Obama's record right now.

Mitt absolutely pulled punches tonight which would have helped him win the debate-- including some that he has thrown before. He has a strategy in mind, apparently.

I think Romney was trying to depict himself as the candidate with the plan, and Obama as the guy who's sole agenda item is to take down Mitt Romney.

[MarkGrace]

From a tactical standpoint it was not close. I'm surprised people here are not seeing that.

http://cougaruteforum.com/showpost.p...4&postcount=98

[Jeff Lebowski]

That's what all the talking heads seem to be saying right now. They all seem surprised by how much Mitt was agreeing with the Pres. I'm sure the strategy by Mitt was multi-faceted tonight, but it makes me wonder if part of it didn't have to do with just pushing voters back toward the economy. If I'm looking at two candidates that are differing on every single issue, that's a lot to process. If they look familiar on foreign policy, then I'm forced back to the differentiators, and that's the economy. And clearly they want people's minds there since its the ugliest part of Obama's record right now.

I think you are right on. It seems the Romney camp smartly recognized that there was little chance to replicate the round 1 knockout, so the best hope is to appear presidential and bring up the economy at every chance. I think that was a wise move.

[All-American]

CNN's focus group didn't like Obama's dig about the horses and bayonets. Tired of the fighting, perhaps?

[CJF]

Now I understand the focus group lines. Soledad was manning the room. I wonder if she had a clicker in her hand.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

I think you are right on. It seems the Romney camp smartly recognized that there was little chance to replicate the round 1 knockout, so the best hope is to appear presidential and bring up the economy at every chance. I think that was a wise move.

There were a lot of pitfalls in a foreign policy debate with a sitting president. How many people remember John Kerry saying the "global test?" Does anyone remember anything else from that debate?

[Maximus]

Maybe not a blowout as big as the first debate, but it wasn't close.

Maybe not? It was about as much as a draw as the 2nd. No where near the first.

[San Juan Sun]

Mitt absolutely pulled punches tonight which would have helped him win the debate-- including some that he has thrown before. He has a strategy in mind, apparently.

I think Romney was trying to depict himself as the candidate with the plan, and Obama as the guy who's sole agenda item is to take down Mitt Romney.

Krauthammer on Fox just said the same thing. He said Romney wins resoundingly because he was "large" and Presidential, and that Obama was "shockingly small".

Krauthammer also said that laying off of Syria/Libya was political jiu-jitsu akin to Reagan in 1980 acting dovish.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Maybe not? It was about as much as a draw as the 2nd. No where near the first.

Yeah, I don't see anybody calling it an Obama blowout. Admittedly, I haven't tuned in MSNBC yet.

[All-American]

Krauthammer on Fox just said the same thing.

Sheesh, I need to be more ambitious in my job applications.

[YOhio]

Yes! Hannity is on now with Frank Luntz and his 27 undecideds. Time to tune in.

[All-American]

CNN feels pretty certain that Obama's best line of the night, about the bayonets and horses, won't play well in Virginia, and in fact, may have cost him that state.

[YOhio]

One of the panelists has to be a stripper.