I agree. The performance(s) during the debate were striking.
The press keeps relying on the fact that the challenger historically wins the first debate. This may be true, but there is a huge caveat.
What the press is missing (on purpose?) is that never in history has a sitting president, who was hailed as such a intellectual heavyweight, come out looking so bad. And never has a challenger, framed as a goofy, gaffe prone Thurston Howell III caricature, come out looking so presidential.
The media-created images of the two men were the polar opposites of the men on stage. The media, even more than Obama, was shown to be frauds. They (and $150 million in Obama ads) had developed a Hollywood version of Romney - an out of touch Gordon Gecko plutocrat, with a touch of Mormom weirdness. It all blew up in their faces on Wednesday.
I think that is what the Romney camp was counting on all along - and why they held off on advertising, etc. Chris Christie had hinted it by saying, “On Thursday this race will be turned upside down.”
I think Romney takes a lead for good and does not look back. This will be remembered forever. Books will be written based on this moment in time.
Excellent analysis, I think, especially your third and fourth paragraphs.
Excellent points...well written.
Excellent analysis!
An interesting polling note is that Rasmussen has Romney almost tied in the Electoral College, if toss ups are allocated by the current polls - http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/archive/2012_electoral_college_scoreboard
Safe or likely Romney totals 181. Safe or likely Obama totals 237. There are no states that “lean” either way. In the 120 “toss up” EV states, Obama leads for NV’s 6 votes, WI’s 10 votes, and OH’s 18 votes. That takes Obama to 271 over Romney’s 267, a very narrow loss for America - on polls that in many cases are pre-debate.
nhwingut wrote:
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I agree. The performance(s) during the debate were striking.
The press keeps relying on the fact that the challenger historically wins the first debate. This may be true, but there is a huge caveat.
What the press is missing (on purpose?) is that never in history has a sitting president, who was hailed as such a intellectual heavyweight, come out looking so bad. And never has a challenger, framed as a goofy, gaffe prone Thurston Howell III caricature, come out looking so presidential.
The media-created images of the two men were the polar opposites of the men on stage. The media, even more than Obama, was shown to be frauds. They (and $150 million in Obama ads) had developed a Hollywood version of Romney - an out of touch Gordon Gecko plutocrat, with a touch of Mormom weirdness. It all blew up in their faces on Wednesday.
I think that is what the Romney camp was counting on all along - and why they held off on advertising, etc. Chris Christie had hinted it by saying, “On Thursday this race will be turned upside down.”
I think Romney takes a lead for good and does not look back. This will be remembered forever. Books will be written based on this moment in time.
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I agree with your assessment 100%. VERY well stated!
This will be like a 1/4 mile or 200m or 400m race, Romney will continue pulling away and Obama won't be able to mount a challenge.........
I think you are right! Obama has made history in a way he never dreamed...as has the msm.