Please remember that this is what is being reflected in the polls. When you see a switch from + D to + R, it means the respondents have become more enthusiastic, and thus, more willing to identify with a party.
Today I saw Frank Newport (Gallup) interviewed on Chris Jansing's show. He absolutely noted that Romney's bounce became more muted as the days wore on, and said that last night's polling favored the president. So Obama still ahead among registered voters. Similarly, ABC-Wash Post published a favorability poll today. Both gained, but Romney could not overtake Obama, who is now at a high of 55 percent. He was going down late last week but made it all up over the weekend.
Still .. today Gallup is of course switching to the likely voter model and it will be tied or Romney slightly ahead. Why...? Again, Enthusiasm. A demoralized Obama voter does not make it through their likely voter screens. Even an okay Obama voter does not make it through -- witness that no one under 30 seemed to have gotten through Pew's likely voter screens. So we can be as upset or pissed off or as demoralized as we want. All it does is play into their narrative.
I'm not being a Pollyanna. I know what the first debate cost us. I have literally been sick about it. I do think that sometimes there is a tendency to forget it was not the only debate. There will be others. We have another turn at bat.