How bad was Romney’s stomping of Barack?
This was the “October surprise” that many people fear, and the fear is showing on Obama’s face and that of his supporters.
Obama was left wondering “who is this guy they put up against me?”. No doubt, after so many times looking down and wanting Lehrer to stop Romney, that he also wanted to check his watch to see how much longer he would have to endure the beat-down.
Obama was close to calling for his mommy last night.
http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/cool-hand-barry/?hp
“...................The passion that the president exhibits on the campaign trail never showed up on the debate stage. To my mind, that was a mistake.
This is the closing argument of a campaign. The jury has heard all the evidence that it’s going to hear. The candidates needed to deliver a strong, moving summation. We all know that Obama is capable of stirring oratory, but in the first debate he failed to deliver. The guy with the weaker case made the stronger statement, falsehoods and all, and that is a dangerous thing to allow so close to Election Day.
The Obama campaign must learn from this blunder: stronger is better. The last phase of the campaign is about impressions more than it is about policy.
It is unfortunate, but at this stage, for the undecided people in the middle, substance is a casualty of style. By that measure, Romney outshone the president at this debate.
There are two more chances for the president to change tactics, or at least to show up to the debates energized and nimble: President Xanax just doesn’t cut it.
The question is whether he will.”