The LuLac Edition #2231, October 16th, 2012

Mitt Romney and President Obama at tonight’s debate. 

A RESET 

Tonight’s Town Hall Meeting debate was a reset in this Presidential race. Both Mitt Romney and President Obama came out swinging. It was almost like a prize fight between two guys in Brooks Brothers suits. No one took any crap fro one another. Romney was going to stake out his agenda on the strength of his first debate performance. Obama had to make the case for what he accomplished in his first term. Plus he had to counter Romney and engage him in a count counterpoint manner that gave the American people the impression that he indeed want to fight for his job and by osmosis his policies. President Barack Obama was aggressive as he accused Mitt Romney of favoring a plan to help the rich. Obama said he was offended when Romney started to politicize the Libya attack a month ago. Obama’s anger showed through when he said that his team should not be used as a political football in this tragic circumstance. Romney pushed back saying the middle class has been crushed over the last four years, and that 23 million Americans are struggling to find employment. President Obama was fast on his feet and appeared to be focused like a laser beam with the task at hand. from the outset than he had been in their initial encounter two weeks ago, when he Obama challenged Romney on economics and energy policy, accusing him of switching positions and declaring that his economic plan was a "sketchy deal" that the public should reject. Romney was as strong as before even interrupting the President during a few sequences. He said the president's policies had failed to jump start the economy and crimped energy production. An open-stage format left the two contenders stroll freely across a stage, Their dust ups crackled with tension and nervous energy. The crowd at Hofstra University watched as the two political foes duked it out. The rivals disagreed about taxes, measures to reduce the deficit, energy, pay equity for women and health care issues. Immigration prompted yet another clash, Romney saying Obama had failed to pursue the comprehensive legislation he promised at the dawn of his administration, and the President saying Republican obstructionism made a deal impossible. 
Moderator Candy Crowley did a good job at refereeing the clash. Republicans are saying that Romney did well and held the President’s feet to the fire. Democrats who were disappointed in the first Obama performance are breathing a sigh of relief glad that Obama seemed more engaged and actually defended some of the things he did in his administration. While the first debate stopped the slide for Romney, and even gave him a leg up in some key battle ground states, this second debate will give President Obama’s supporters solace that his campaign and message are back on track. If anything, this debate performance by Obama will re energize the faithful. The interesting aspect of Obama’s performance is that he seemed to shore up faltering bases like the women’s vote. While Obama talked about women in the workplace, Romney talked about finding women in binders to staff his administration. As soon as I heard that, I thought, “Didn’t he know any competent women on his own from his business days?” Correct me if I’m wrong but women were in corporate America in the late 80s and 90s right? 
I thought it was interesting that there were no concerted efforts to drag people to "debate parties" to watch the President this time around. I can only conclude that the Obama faithful wants to hold their collective breaths alone in the privacy of their own homes. 
The next debate will come on Monday. Right now the calibration has been reset. I would not be surprised if the Romney surge in the battleground states slumps a but and Obama regains his footing. Tonigtht’s debate went a long way toward making this race what everyone suspected all along it would be, a nail biter.