Obama blew it. Indecisive, disconnected, downbeat - and much more, Obama's presidential demeanor deserted him just when he need it the most.
Obama failed to present himself as a competent leader last night. Mitt Romney did far better at exceeding the low expectations of his leadership capabilities.
With a downcast gaze and a visible reluctance to speak into the camera, Obama - the once mighty orator and debater - cowed sheepishly and stammered in the face of his opponent, Mitt Romney.
But it gets worse. Obama deliberately held back his knockout punches.
--Not one word about the 47% of American "moochers."
--Not one word about Romney's incessant flip-flops.
--Not one word about Romney's offshore bank accounts.
--Not one word about Romney's factories in China.
Throughout the debate, Obama looked haggard and downtrodden. The world could plainly see that Obama was not prepared for this debate, and, perhaps, he was trying to tell us that he is not prepared to serve a second term.
Romney connected with the viewers by speaking directly into the camera with the red light, while the sitting president of the United States, Barack Obama, preferred an off-camera dialogue with Jim Lehrer.
Obama looked like a Bush. In 1992, George H. W. Bush glanced at his wristwatch - yearning for the end of his psychic torture at the hands of Bill Clinton. In 2004, George W. Bush gazed off into space in abject stupefaction transfixed by Dick Cheney's chatter coming over his headset from the stealth radio receiver strapped to his back.
When the history of this campaign is written, last night's debate will be a crucial turning point - and, perhaps, the crucial turning point.
With nine days of bad media reflecting on how reticent President Obama is to either defend his own policies or to engage in a serious debate against Mitt Romney - the trends in this election will have both candidates level-pegging by the 13th - the date of the next debate.
If in future debates, Obama does not conduct himself in a presidential manner - if he does not establish eye-contact with the TV audience, does not exude his usual mojo - he will lose this election, and it will be a slaughter of the Democratic innocents all across this once dynamic nation.