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Could first presidential debate dictate elections?
By Katie Anderson
On October 10, 2012
As the most Tweeted-about event in America's political history, the first presidential debate of the 2012
election season proved to America that voters were tuned in to hear what each candidate brought to
the table.
For President Obama, however, that table was never found.
Although President Obama was said to have the "upper hand" coming into the debate, since he had
experience with presidential debates in 2008, his performance in Denver against Gov. Mitt Romney
made the president look like a rookie.
Instead of addressing some vulnerable points in Romney's campaign, President Obama let Romney have
the foreground while the president played defense.
CNN contributor James Carville said, "It looked like Romney wanted to be there and the president didn't
want to be there."
According to a CNN/ORC International poll, 67 percent of 430 people who watched the debate thought
Romney won.
Many Americans are not only talking about the President's mild approach during this first of three
debates, but also Mitt Romney's combative attitude while presenting his positions and attacking the
president's. Romney was, in fact, a more aggressive debater, calling President Obama out on issues such
as meager economic growth over the past four years, high taxes and an unpopular healthcare reform
plan.
Instead of rising to the same energy level Romney showed, however, President Obama used his time
at the podium giving explanations for his actions over the past four years in defense against Romney's
attacks.
Not only did the President have difficulty addressing Mitt Romney's person, but he also didn't address
some of the weak points in Romney's campaign such as the infamous 47 percent of Americans who
Romney previously claimed are government dependent.
After the debate, polls evened out in Romney's favor. A pre-debate poll from Gallup.com said President
Obama had a 50 percent to 45 percent lead over Romney. Immediate results after the debate, however,
changed those numbers to a tie at 47 percent. Most current polls have the President back to about 49
percent, with Romney at 46.
Although polls are not always accurate with the end result of the race, they are and will be a main focus
of American news media until the election is over.
The pressure will be on for both participants in the second debate as Vice President Joe Biden will seek a
considerable lead over Congressman Paul Ryan in response to President Obama's "loss." It will be held
Oct. 11 at Centre College in Danville, Ky.
President Obama and Romney go head-to-head again in the third debate Oct. 16. It will be a town
meeting format where citizens will ask the candidates questions relating to foreign and domestic policy.
This debate will be essential to the polls as well as each candidate's campaign, as it will incorporate
concerns directly from American citizens.
Overall, the surprising outcome of the first debate will increase viewership for the next three. Voters
will want to see how the president will attempt a comeback to gain a greater lead in the polls. Also,
voters will be curious to see if Romney will be as strong the second time around and possibly change the
momentum of the race.
Katie Anderson can be reached by email at anderson.record@live.com.
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