Is Romney going to approach Obama on likeability? Was there something to make UNDECIDEDS in Ohio, Wisconsin, and Nevada start breaking for Romney en masse? Did Romney do anything that will chip into the 70% polling Obama has with Latinos?
I felt Obama put in a jiu-jitsu like performance to be honest. People may have thought Romney won, but as Kos said, a great number of those were Obama supporters. Also, and this is key, while Romney won, there was no gaffe to HURT Obama. Obama did not say anything that could potentially make people start stampeding away from him.
Romney surpassed expectations, Obama probably underwhelmed, but he's never been a soaring debater.
But I do have to wonder, Obama really let Romney get away with so much--so much, that one has to wonder if there's something the Obama campaign is waiting to hatch. Many times during his presidency, and his 2008 campaign, he's seemed passive, but in retrospect he's pretty much almost always achieved what he set out to to do. I wonder if there's something going on here.....the few things that Obama DID emphasize were interesting:
- Repeatedly getting Romney to say he won't cut taxes on the rich.
- Getting Romney to talk up 'empathetic' aspects of healthcare.
About my jiu-jitsu theory. Obama has this thing where he 'seems' weak and ineffective. Remember the Obambi taunts from 2008? Or how he was 'weak' during healthcare? (I don't remember any Democratic president securingthat much coverage for uninsured) Or how he apologizes for America? (Bin Laden and Qaddafi sure don't think Obama is an appeaser), etc?
I'm still mildly optimistic.