Game Change
October 4, 2012 - by
Mitt Romney sliced and diced President Obama last night. Obama looked like he’d rather be celebrating his anniversary with Michelle. If he keeps this up, they won’t spend their next anniversary in the White House, let alone with 40 million people.
See the rule from my blog yesterday (and my ever-so-accurate prediction): “Bugs Bunny always beats Daffy Duck.” That is, the most comfortable person on stage wins. That was Romney.
From the start, he was crisp, commanding and on-message. In his first answer, he talked about real people’s problems. He ticked off his five points. The whole time, he addressed Obama directly and watched him steadily when Obama talked. The President kept “uh’ing” and looking down. Maybe he was making notes to fire his debate-prep team.
Here’s the real question now: Did Romney tell the truth? He seemed to throw Obama off from the start by simply denying he ever wanted a big tax cut. Huh? I thought that was his whole campaign.
Throughout his career, Romney has had a breathtaking ability to deny he did what he just did – or said what he just said. Will it catch up to him now?
As for Obama, he really hasn’t had a strong public performance throughout this campaign. His convention speech was no great shakes. His bounce in the polls came from his campaign ads, the convention and Bill Clinton. For that matter, Obama has had trouble making his own case since he became President – despite a strong record of achievement.
It’s baffling.
But take heart, Democrats. I’ve been through plenty of bad first debates, on both sides. Jim Hunt slapped Jesse Helms around in their first debate in 1984, but Helms recovered in later debates and, of course, won the election. Jim Gardner stunned Hunt with his aggressiveness in 1992, but Hunt came back strong next time and, of course, won the election.
Still, last night changes the story line. The next two weeks, at least, will be about Romney’s comeback.
Game Change
October 4, 2012/
Mitt Romney sliced and diced President Obama last night. Obama looked like he’d rather be celebrating his anniversary with Michelle. If he keeps this up, they won’t spend their next anniversary in the White House, let alone with 40 million people.
See the rule from my blog yesterday (and my ever-so-accurate prediction): “Bugs Bunny always beats Daffy Duck.” That is, the most comfortable person on stage wins. That was Romney.
From the start, he was crisp, commanding and on-message. In his first answer, he talked about real people’s problems. He ticked off his five points. The whole time, he addressed Obama directly and watched him steadily when Obama talked. The President kept “uh’ing” and looking down. Maybe he was making notes to fire his debate-prep team.
Here’s the real question now: Did Romney tell the truth? He seemed to throw Obama off from the start by simply denying he ever wanted a big tax cut. Huh? I thought that was his whole campaign.
Throughout his career, Romney has had a breathtaking ability to deny he did what he just did – or said what he just said. Will it catch up to him now?
As for Obama, he really hasn’t had a strong public performance throughout this campaign. His convention speech was no great shakes. His bounce in the polls came from his campaign ads, the convention and Bill Clinton. For that matter, Obama has had trouble making his own case since he became President – despite a strong record of achievement.
It’s baffling.
But take heart, Democrats. I’ve been through plenty of bad first debates, on both sides. Jim Hunt slapped Jesse Helms around in their first debate in 1984, but Helms recovered in later debates and, of course, won the election. Jim Gardner stunned Hunt with his aggressiveness in 1992, but Hunt came back strong next time and, of course, won the election.
Still, last night changes the story line. The next two weeks, at least, will be about Romney’s comeback.