I am trying to make sense of Obama's plummet in the polls that we've seen the past week and a half. I had never thought a poor debate performance would dramatically change the direction of an election. Reagan and Dubya did badly, yet they still won reelection, the polls tightened, but not to the extent that you see right now. I am going to be honest. I am less hopeful about the outcome of this election as we slog through this miserable week. The fact that Obama is running behind ME 02 says it all.
I think that what happened that night was that Obama's performance reinforced the Right's stereotype of him. "He is an empty suit." Or "he's only articulate because he uses a teleprompter." Another underlying current was that Obama only won the Democratic nomination and thus the presidency out of sheer luck. He was winning reelection out of sheer luck. To be fair polling had shown that Obama was ahead because Romney's weaknesses not Obama strengths. He was stumbling over his words. He was tentative. Whereas Romney appeared to be in control despite his unbelievable mendacity. He looked like he was sticking it to Obama.
Romney also gave the appearance that he's moderate and he had a plan. He appealed to white blue collar women who were supporting Obama but that was soft. So people now found him as an acceptable alternative. The election was always going to be close but this week has been a rude awakening.
I haven't given up (as a Florida resident I will be canvassing tomorrow) but I am looking at this with eyes wide open.