Obama-Romney Round Two: Bounce Back
October 17, 2012
by Chris Cassidy
Boston Herald
President Obama needed to show he could fight, and defend his recession- and war-battered four years in office. And he showed up ready to do battle, in a performance that observers say is likely to stop the bleeding in a campaign that has seen dramatic losses in the polls.
But whether it is enough to propel the president ahead of Mitt Romney remains to be seen. Romney held his own, and got in harsh lines such as telling voters Obama can only offer a "repeat of the last four years." Obama, using a line of attack he had foregone last time, went at Romney's "47 percent" remarks.
"Think about who he was talking about," Obama said, citing those on Social Security, veterans and students. "I want to fight for them."
Moderator Candy Crowley of CNN raised eyebrows by helping out the president with a mid-debate fact check - the accuracy of which the GOP has contested in a post-debate backlash.
In the end both sides probably satisfied their bases. The polls tomorrow and over the coming week will reveal how crucial swing-state independents viewed tonight's slugfest. Another presidential debate looms next Monday in Florida, and then it goes to the voters in the one poll that matters.
Stonehill College professor Peter Ubertaccio: "No doubt Obama bounced back tonight. I'm guessing he has rekindled the fire among his activist base. But if you have to do that in mid-October, you are in trouble. I don't think this debate will move the needle much one way or another. And that's good news for the challenger who has been closing the gap."
Democratic strategist Scott Ferson: "Obama made up ground lost, and it was lost, from the last debate. In fact, he won, and won decisively. Romney does not do well in a town hall setting, talking to, albeit real voters, even in a contrived setting, to swing voters, and I'd be shocked if polls don't reflect an Obama win. The state by state map shows an Obama win, today, and that will improve."
Republican strategist Ford O'Connell: "Mitt Romney had the upper-hand on the terrorist attack in Libya question, but he was unable to pin President Obama with failed leadership or policies. In fact, Romney pretty much fumbled the issue. He will likely get a second chance at the Libya issue in the third debate which will exclusively cover foreign policy.
"Romney closed strong - his best line of the debate: ‘We don't have to settle for this.""
UNH pollster Andrew Smith: "Romney on much more solid ground on economic issues, Obama is keeping him off balance by turning the question to non-economic issues. What will be important is what topics undecided voters are listening to ... These guys really don't like each other. Wonder if they'll shake hands when it's over! ... The story tomorrow will be that Obama is back, not so much because he won or lost, but because it was so much better than the last debate ... "
Zing back!
Crowley asks about the assault rifle ban Romney signed in Massachusetts - something Obama had neglected to do.
Romney says pro- and anti-gun forces came together in a mutually agreed upon bill - something Washington needs more of.
Obama, flipping the old Kerry slam back at a Republican, claims Romney was "for the assault rifle ban before he was against it" and that he only changed his mind when he ran for president and wanted the endorsement of the National Rifle Association.
Live fact check?
Obama, Romney argue what Obama said, when, about terrorism in Benghazi. Obama looks to Crowley to referee, demanding a quick Rose Garden transcript read. Crowley complies, Obama thanks her.
Stonehill College professor Peter Ubertaccio: "Getting fact checked live by the moderator just hurt Romney."
Democratic strategist Scott Ferson: "The president was vulnerable on Libya. But in his strong response and in Romney's overreach, perhaps fueled by right wing rhetoric and unfounded speculations and misstatements on his reaction, were strongly countered. Then Romney doubled down and was shut down by Crowley, backed by Obama. Strong showing by the president."
That Benghazi business
Kerry Ladka asks about the deadly terrorist attack in Libya.
Obama said he beefed up security in Libya and elsewhere, investigate what happened and hunt down the aggressors.
"When folks mess with Americans, we go after them" said Obama.
Not like Romney, Obama says, trying to score cheap political points hours after the attacks.
Romney notes Obama immediately flew off to a fundraiser.
Romney: "These actions taken by a leader have symbolic significance and possibly material significance." That and "apologizing" to the Muslim world. "This strategy is unravelling before our very eyes."
Stonehill College professor Peter Ubertaccio: "Not sure that Obama's defiant tone toward questioner on LIbya is helpful to his cause."
Democratic strategist Scott Ferson: "Answer the question, expand the thought. I do think its's best to answer a question directly from a real live voter on live TV in front of millions of voters. Both Obama and Romney feel the need to provide context for their direct comments, and I think that's a mistake."
Awkward subjects
"Mr President have you looked at your pension? Mr. President have you looked your pension?" Romney repeated.
"I don't look at my pension - it's not as big as yours," said Obama. "I don't check it that often."
Romney informs Obama he has investments in China, too.
That was in an immigration debate ... a subject Obama gladly goes back to.
Stonehill College professor Peter Ubertaccio: Romney very wisely moves off of a truly ridiculous definition of self deportation.
Quick scorecard
Republican strategist Ford O'Connell: "After 60-minute mark, Obama is leading but Romney is catching up. Who would have thought that Romney could better tell you why he is NOT President George W. Bush than President Obama could tell you why he deserves a second term."
Democratic strategist Scott Ferson: "This is the after thanksgiving main course dinner tryptophan lull. Unless someone stabs another with a turkey baster we don't notice. We look forward to the last 10 minutes when dessert is served."
Bitter zing
A disenchanted Obama supporter asks, what have you done to earn my vote four years later?
Obama: bin Laden dead, health care passed, Wall Street reformed, 5 million jobs created. Maybe not everything I promised but give me another four years, we had this recession...
Romney: re-elect Obama and you get a "repeat of the last four years."
Stonehill College professor Peter Ubertaccio: "Romney's best line: if you reelect President Obama you know what you're going to get. Obama is painting Mitt as a radical, more radical than George W. Bush. Romney just ignores it, going right back to the economy, jobs, and the record of the past four years. That's his winning issue."
Bush who?
President Obama looks genuinely thrilled that Susan Katz just said she blames much of the country's failings on the Bush administration, then asks Romney what the difference is between him and Bush.
Romney then insists there are plenty.
"President Bush and I are different people and these are different times," he says.
"Romney desperately wants to move the debate beyond any reference to George W. Bush."
Democratic strategist Scott Ferson: "Obama lands punches on social policy, in contrasting W Bush and Romney "W didn't oppose funding for planned parenthood" etc, and it effectively danced with the contrasts Romney was forced to mention. So the contrasts were outlined and Obama was the one defending W. Brilliant."
Undecided? Yeah, right
Democratic strategist Scott Ferson: "So, if these are really undecided voters, and I'm skeptical of undecided voters at this point, uninterested voters, yes, but undecided? Anyway, Obama is connecting with real voters on real issues."
Quick scorecard
No candidate has so far had a Clintonesque "I feel your pain" moment and they haven't seemed to personally connect to the questioner - not for want of trying as Obama tells his family story. And neither has had an awkward elder Bush watch-glancing moment, either.
To the contrary, with the clock running out over his shoulder, Romney plows through, going on for 30-40 extra seconds with no signs of stopping until Crowley starts to cut in.
Republican strategist Ford O'Connell: "President Obama came out of the gates swinging, and after the 30-minute mark Romney is trailing the president."
UNH pollster Andrew Smith: "Obama on his game tonight, Romney not backing down, waiting for them to ignore Crowley."
Democratic strategist Scott Ferson: "On taxes, Obama is talking to the audience. Romney is talking above their heads; I ran the Olympics. I ran Massachusetts. Obama spoke to them. "He pays 14 percent, less than many of you pay." He talks basic math."
Stonehill College professor Peter Ubertaccio: "We will be hearing the phrase ‘sketchy deal' a lot more over the next few weeks."
Once sleepy, twice spry
Obama's being awfully careful not to look down while Romney's speaking. Even when he gulps from a glass of water, he's looking straight ahead at Romney, smirking slightly and blinking slowly.
Romney invokes the "five-point plan," and Obama flashes a quick, almost Biden-esque grin.
Brass tax
Blissfully, fisticuffs avoided, we move on to the tax talk after a questioner stumbles through her big moment.
Romney says "middle class has been buried" under the prez, promises not to cut taxes on the wealthy or raise taxes on the middle class. But, he says, Obama's borrowing will force the country to do so.
Obama's comeback: "If we're serious about reducing the deficit .. then we have to make sure the wealthy do a little bit more."
Stonehill College professor Peter Ubertaccio: "President gets points this debate on clarity but Romney doesn't back down in the face of the President's critique of his tax policies."
Dustup in progress
The verbal combat starts, with Romney walking toward Obama as the president looks to the moderator and the crowd and then backs away.
"You'll get your chance in the moment - I'm still speaking," says Romney.
Fifteen minutes in and this debate could get ugly.
Democratic strategist Scott Ferson: "I believe Mr. Romney has now crossed the line of respect afforded any president, R or D. And, in fact, Obama won the exchange on its merits. But you do have to give a deference of respect to the incumbent, which Romney did last debate. He has exhibited a quality that people do not like of his character."
Stonehill College professor Peter Ubertaccio: "Obama is trying to unsettle Romney, who is often easily irritated. So far Mitt is holding his own but the President is more ferocious than I've ever seen him."
Energetic Debate
The "most important thing we can do is," Obama says, "control our own energy."
"This president has not been Mr. Oil or Mr. Coal or Mr. Gas," counters Romney.
Obama fights back with a reference to the Salem Harbor Power Station, noting that Romney called a press conference as governor in front of the plant saying "this plant kills and took great pride in shutting it down."
Half-Biden
Democratic strategist Scott Ferson: "So far the president is exactly halfway between asleep and full "Joe Biden," which is exactly right. Obama supports breathe a sigh of relief."
You're hired!
The first question out the gate is about creating jobs for college students. Romney brings up the Adams Scholarships here in Massachusetts that give college seniors a free ride to state schools if they meet certain criteria. Romney then makes a personal promise to the questioner.
"When you come out in 2014...I'm going to make sure you get a job," he says.
Obama, on a less personal note, talks about taking the money spent on war over the last 10 years, and investing it in programs to put people back to work.
Lesson learned
Stonehill College professor Peter Ubertaccio: "The president has learned from his failure. He's spent more time defending his record and contrasting his policies to Romney in the first few minutes of this debate than he did in the entire last debate."
Democratic strategist Scott Ferson: "Romney talking about how the kid gets a job after work is hard for Romney to relate to: if it doesn't happen, go to graduate school; sell off some American Motors stock; live with parents."
Moderator Candy Crowley only briefly and indirectly references the controversy about whether she'll be a heavy handed ref.
"My goal is to give the conversation direction," says Crowley.
Debate brewing
Politicker.com reports Anheuser-Busch - the "official beer" of presidential debates since 1996 - is giving free beer to reporters at the debate venue at Hofstra University ... raising the prospect some will be "F.W.I.-filing while intoxicated." Well, if they can, you might as well. Drink while mulling the future of your nation responsibly, please.
Democratic strategist Scott Ferson: "I watched Romney and Kennedy enter Faneuil Hall that October night in 1994. Romney entered quickly, camera's snapping, union sign holders yelling. Kennedy climbed up on the running board of the SUV and pounded the roof. He entered pumped, Romney a bit rattled and Kennedy clearly won. One has to psych him or herself up."
Earthquake yuks
Did you hear the one about that 4.6 magnitude earthquake centered in Maine that shook parts of the Bay State just now?
GOP strategist Todd Domke tweets: "Elizabeth Warren says it particularly hammered the middle class."
In other notable tweets tonight:
Former Dubya aide Ari Fleischer: "I predict an 8.0 tremor will be felt in Chicago election night. It will also cause someone in DC 2lose their home on 1/20/13."
Bay State jokester Denis Leary: "First candidate to mention Afghanistan in tonight's debate gets to run a Pizza Hut for the next 4 years."
"Apprentice" grand firer Donald Trump: "If Obama gets wise tonight just ask for his college records & transcripts - he will quiet down quickly."
Obama's challenge
Democratic strategist Scott Ferson, gearing up for the debate: "I'm prepared. Sitting here with several media devices open, in my ‘Gephardt for President' t-shirt. Obama needs to be awake and he beats his last performance. Romney has to remember that he won the last debate but people still don't like him.
"Let's not overhype this. If Romney gained ground with the last performance by appearing that blood actually pumped through his veins, Obama can correct it as easily tonight."
Stonehill College professor Peter Ubertaccio: "Going into tonight, the president has a tremendously large challenge. He encouraged voters to give Romney a second look after the last debate. They did and seem to like what they see. So now the president needs to convince them that their second look was misguided."
NASCAR politics
No, not the flyover heartland redneck kind of politics the left likes to disparage and the right embraces. Town hall debates are like NASCAR, because they tune in to see if either candidate will crash and burn.
"You never know - that's why you watch," said Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia. "You never know what they're going to say. Their staffs are sitting there having heart attacks about the whole thing."
Debate Instapunditry
A quick note to Herald readers from Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit.com, who notes the lament of a 2008 Obama backer, "Please, please, Barack, don't become another Jimmy Carter."
Too late, Reynolds says: "He's reached the point where that's the best we can hope for."
Win one like the Gipper!
Obama, hoping to bounce back from his sleep-walking debate debacle two weeks ago, needs to channel his inner Ronald Reagan.
"I think he's going to have to make a joke about his last performance," said Andrew Smith of the University of New Hampshire. "He has to do something to poke fun of himself."
Reagan suffered a bruising first debate in 1984, looking confused, old and almost senile, Smith said, before showing up to his next debate with Walter Mondale and delivering one of the most memorable lines in debate history.
"I will not make age an issue of this campaign," said Reagan. "I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience."
The rest ... like Mondale ... was history. And now, it's Gipper time again.
"If anyone has to swing a little more for the fences," said Smith, "it's Obama."
Kerry math
Our own senior senator took to the Twitterverse just moments ago to slam Mitt Romney's record in Massachusetts.
Tweeted Sen. John Kerry at 6:53 p.m.: "If ignoring MA congressional del/spkr/state prez for 4 yrs = bipartisanship then Mitt nailed it"
Honey Boo Boo for Obama
On Jimmy Kimmel last night, the host asked the 7-year-old hillbilly train wreck reality TV show "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" star which candidate she likes better. She wasn't entirely sure who either of them are, but when Kimmel helpfully stacked the deck by noting that Romney had said on the Kathy and Michael Show that he preferred Snooki, that clinched Honey's vote for "Marack Obama."
Governor's travels
Obama Campaign surrogate/co-chairman Gov. Deval Patrick is about to embark on some lightning-fast evening-commute travel - all the way from a lowly rep race to the heights of (jockeying for) presidential power.
Patrick's schedule has him hitting a fundraiser for state Rep. Tom Sannicandro in Ashland at 6 p.m. He's then slated to travel to Hofstra University in New York - some 200 miles, according Google maps - for the presidential debate that starts at 9 p.m.
So how is Patrick pulling this off? Not the state police helicopter, please. That didn't work out so well for him last time. (High-speed cruiser ride also not advised ... the admin's track record on that, not so good.)
A Patrick official would only say the Gov is indeed flying and that his travel is being paid for the Obama campaign, not taxpayers.
It's likely to be a quick visit. Patrick's schedule has him returning to the Bay State "in the evening."
Poll-axed!
It's gotta be bad for Team Obama when the best numbers a Daily Kos/SEIU poll of likely voters can produce is Romney 50 percent, Obama 46 percent. And at those hard-left bastions, it's gotta hurt ...
In other poll results, NPR reports a collaboration by Republican and Democratic polling firms finds swing state rural voters who had been holding back going strong for Romney 59 percent to Obama's 37 percent, while Quinnipiac reports Romney is putting his 12 percent deficit in Pennsylvania in the rearview, narrowing O's lead to four points. Ouch. Starting to sound like a trend.
Going rogue
Rules? She don't need no stinkin' rules. Moderator Candy Crowley tells CNN she's plans on running the town hall her way. That means asking follow-up questions if she feels like it. The two campaigns signed agreements ruling out follow-ups, but Crowley says she didn't sign anything.
Spark it up!
News of battery maker A123's bankruptcy, after receiving hundreds of millions in loans from the federal government as well as the state of Massachusetts, couldn't come at a worse time for Oabma or a more convenient time for Romney. It's the latest in a series of alternative energy failures under the O admin.
Whose to lose?
So who's the underdog now? Tough call. Obama still leads in the Electoral College projections at realclearpolitics.com, but his once commanding 88 vote lead has dropped to 10 votes in the last couple of weeks, and the RCP poll average has flipped, with Romney now narrowly leading 47.4 percent to 47.3 percent today.
Charm offensive
After a disastrously lackluster performance two weeks ago in Colorado, Obama is seen as needing to come out swinging against a commanding, confident Romney. But the town hall format has him taking citizens' questions ... not the place for mud wrestling ... and Vice President Joe Biden's smirkfest last week is not just a national joke, it did nothing to halt the boss' poll woes. That suggests there's peril in ramping the ampage too high. So will the president fall back on the famous Obama charm instead?
Meanwhile, Romney also has to hit the right note, defending and striking back without appearing too aggressive or cocky. Does the famously starch-shirted exec -- running as a corporate fix-it guy -- maintain the voice of command or loosen his collar while in among the regular folk? Gloves ... on or off?
The politics have no clothes!
Pundits tells the Herald that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's claim of responsibility in the Benghazi attack - she takes the fall for the failure to boost security ahead of time and the changing stories afterward - looks like a naked bid to give her boss cover ahead of tonight's debate. Your take? How large will Libya loom?
Will that wagging dog hunt?
Reports of special forces and drones moving into place - for a possible strike on the as-yet undetermined and unlocated perpetrators of the Benghazi attack -- raise the prospect of a not particularly surprising October surprise. But will it play as a wag-the-dog move or strike a chord as righteous vengeance? Are you concerned about the role politics might play in military operations?
Waitress moms
They're the new soccer/security moms of an economically battered America. Is Obama losing the key women's vote, and what does he need to do to win them back?
Everything in moderation
Can CNN's Candy Crowley be trusted to be fair as she sorts through questions submitted by purportedly undecided voters? With moderators' performances almost as much of the story as candidates in recent debates, what do you want Crowley to do tonight? Or is there someone else you'd like to see refereeing this faceoff?
Why wait? Live debate coverage starts now
Weigh in on tonight's second presidential debate with your own predictions and citizen punditry ahead of time. Stay tuned for news updates all day. And when you're dual-screening the debate tonight, make bostonherald.com your web go-to.
The Boston Herald will have blow-by-blow coverage and analysis as Round Two unfolds tonight, as well as a live chat and livestreaming video of the 9 p.m faceoff at Hofstra University. Check back here for news updates all day. Post your own top questions for President Obama and GOP challenger Mitt Romney in comments.
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