I had to run some errands this morning and waiting in line at about 4 or so local places, I heard the question repeated. I was a bit surprised to hear so many folks talking about it. Over a very lovely flatbread pizza lunch, I eavesdropped on two conservative women who were excited to see Mitt in action. It really was Mitt's show, after all.
So, let's start here: I am not completely convinced that the debate was really THE debate. I didn't see anything that would shake up the masses in any surprising way. This was a debate, in my opinion, in which Obama did not advance his candidacy, but Romney may have. Net gain? No way to tell. I don't think either man convinced anyone to switch teams.
Having said that, everyone seems to agree that Mitt Romney won.
This was one of the oddest debates I have ever seen, and the spin has been even stranger. Everyone is under the microscope this time. I can't believe how many people have been bashing on the moderator! I like Jim Lehrer, but last night was not a great night in his career. I am worried about the folks who think that this might have cost Obama the debate. I am not sure that I agree, but if the noise gets louder in that camp, it will set a precedent for future presidential debates, I am sure. Take this beauty from the Nation:
The Lehrer/PBS school of moderation is fundamentally unequipped to deal with the era of post-truth, asymmetric polarization politics—and it should be retired. Time and time again, Romney deviated from the positions he took to win the GOP primary, and neither Lehrer nor Obama was able to effectively press him on it. Obama at least tried, at times.
Lehrer was not the only head on the chopping block at the debate. Let me clarify, before the debate was even over, people were yelling about Big Bird and Romney's promise to cut funding to PBS after he is elected. Some of my favorite Tweets on the topic are here, if you've got a minute for a chuckle.
If anyone is in need of a laugh today, though, it will likely be President Obama. Now, I can't say that this was the day he lost his bid for re-election, but I can say that many of his greatest fans were shocked and disappointed by what happened last night. Most people expected the President to come out of the gate swinging, but his biggest swipe of the night was at Lehrer. The swirling conversations all seem to have the same hum: this was a night of missed opportunities for the President. His body language was off. His message was muddy. He came off as professorial (a-hem. I take offense to that one.). My favorite critic of the President's performance is here.
I gotta say, Mr. Obama, you're probably in trouble if Mitt Romney comes off as funnier than you. But why I am worried about me? Because I agree with this bit by Fox News. I may need another shower.
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