Posted on 10/17/2012 8:20:54 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
In my estimation, last night’s debate was a draw. Both men did what they needed to do for the debate, but neither had enough of a breakout performance to make much of a difference in the race. I’d expect to see very little impact to the Mitt-mentum that developed after the first debate, for reasons which I’ll address in a moment.
That wasn’t the conclusion reached by Frank Luntz’ focus group of former Barack Obama voters, and now undecideds, in Nevada. That panel overwhelmingly chose Mitt Romney as the winner, with observations about Romney’s presidential mien and Obama’s defensiveness and lack of vision for a second term. But one woman, whom (as Luntz jokes) bears a strong resemblance to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, neatly sums up the status of many undecideds, as well as Obama’s big problem with these debates:
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“I was not undecided between Obama and Romney. I was undecided between Romney and not voting.”
That’s the problem for any incumbent President in the final days of the election. They get almost four years to make the case for another term. If voters are still undecided with three weeks left to go, the best an incumbent can hope to do is convince them not to vote at all. That has been the explicit campaign strategy of Team Obama since Romney wrapped up the nomination in May — to make him so toxic that the protest vote against Obama stays home.
Unfortunately, that strategy collapsed after the first debate, and its collapse made the strategy obvious enough to be offensive. Last night, Obama finally decided to show some passion about wanting a second term, but he still hasn’t explained why he wants it or what he’ll do with it, even during last night’s debate. The only case he offered was that he wasn’t Mitt Romney, the same argument that Obama used before the first debate. And he spent most of the evening speaking with an oddly high-pitched tone, as if he was offended that he even needed to go that far.
Obama gave those undecideds no reason last night to vote for him or to stay home on Election Day. That’s why nothing that happened in the debate will change the trajectory of the race.
Meanwhile, if you’re unimpressed with a Fox focus group, you can always balance that out with MSNBC’s focus group of undecideds from last night. Final score there: Obama 1, Romney 1, with the other six abstaining from a choice until after the next debate:
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That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement for an Obama victory claim.
Update: My Townhall brother Guy Benson says I should rewatch the MSNBC focus group:
Hey Ed, saw your post (I have one going up on the focus groups later, too)….I’d gently nudge you toward re-watching MSNBC’s. I think 1-1 and 6 undeclared is very generous to Obama. Two people explicitly said they’re going Romney, and another said she’s leaning towards him now. One girl said Obama, the others didn’t commit, but even the African American remained unsold on O. Just wanted to point that out!
I’d watch it again, but it seems to be down on the YouTube site for some reason. I relied more on the tally from the moderator of the group, but Guy may well be correct.
Luntz needs the battle to keep going. Otherwise why hire him?
I thought it was telling the two ugly women were democrats who were pro obama based on “womens issues” (ie abortion, recreational sex birth control etc.)
That was my favorite part of the whole dog~n~pony show!
Be sure and see the link at post #28 regarding the Obama utterances on the Benghazi attack.
You have to remember those additional agents are too busy dodging bullets fired by guns in the hands of Mexican drug cartel members, which were provided by our own ATF, to actually do the job they were purportedly sent to do...
the infowarrior
More like a replay of 1984. With a bit of luck, Obee will not only carry DC, but might, repeat MIGHT carry Illinois!
Watched the debate but could care the less about the postmortem. There is a simple rule to follow, whatever Obama needs to happen in the last weeks of this election, the MSM will tell us is happening. Obama needs to win a debate, abracadabra, he wins going away. Yawn and predictable.
At this point, I am actually having more fun watching the MSM implode into impotence than I am watching Obama going down in flames.
Depends on whether last night was party night or if today is an early tee time.
I despised Crowley, too. She stated she would not be a fly on the wall prior to her “performance”. Instead she was a giant “black hole” trying to absorb every comment or rebuttal Romney would make into oblivion. Every time Romney would insist on making a point she’d say there will be lots of time at the end...Romney got no time at the end.
Candy Crowley’s Debate Moderation Exemplifies Why Americans Do Not Trust Their Media
Has video clips of the little exchange .....
I could not believe what I was seeing.
It was like being dropped into a land where the People have suddenly awakened.
Still can’t see the narrative that Obama won this..
“When scoring debates, lies only count against the speaker when their opponent refutes them in the context of the debate.”
Thank you. I see what you are saying. The key words are “refutes them in the context of the debate.”
I understand now.
O meant more DEAD agents on the border from his “Fast and Furious” program.
Perhaps a photo shop picture of Obama,Clinton, and Rice with extremely long Pinocchio noses might be effective.
On your own thread I said “Good job!” I was wrong about that. It’s absolutely excellent. The form and content are just superb. Someone who does videos should put it in that format and paste it up on Youtube.
CNN poll had a draw, so good for Romney despite Yahoo News’ spin.
Schieffer plays it straight at least normally so think final debate will be fair unlike Crowley, but it’s going to be a snoozer with foreign policy and few watching.
Last night’s debate had HALF the number of viewers as the first, and we may only have 20 million or so watch the last one.
“I’m still laughing at the guy who said, “Obama’s been bullshitting the people” and the word “bullshitting” got thru unedited!”
Me, too - and the same for everyone I’ve spoken with who saw that. Partly its funny that it got through, but mostly because that’s what nearly everyone except the Obamabots have been saying for at least 3 years.
Obamiwan Been Bullshitting is burnt toast.
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