Romney KO's Obama

If you believe as we do that optics matter then Mitt Romney was the clear winner of the first presidential debate.  It wasn’t even close.  As John McCain said:  “If this was a fight…they would have stopped it.”

Romney took the fight directly to the president.  He aggressively attacked the president’s record and made the case that the country could ill afford four more years of the same.  He was well rehearsed.  He was calm, engaging, thoughtful and at times even funny.  And as his been his history…he didn’t let the facts get in his way.  He had an obvious game plan coming in and he rolled over any attempt by the president or the moderator to interrupt his message.  It was obvious that Romney relished the opportunity to go toe to toe with the president.  He knew that he needed to deliver the political performance of his life…and he did.

Inexplicably the president did nothing to stop him.  Whereas Romney clearly reveled in the moment, the president appeared to endure it.  As Romney rained down criticism over the president’s economic policies the president allowed him to go on virtually unchecked; avoiding eye contact, looking down at his notes.  It was as if the president was caught by off guard by Romney’s aggressive attacks.  The result was a president playing defense while Romney controlled the narrative.

This series of events should not have come as a surprise to the Obama Campaign.  Romney has a history of performing well when his back is against the wall.  And he has shown that he has no problem with stretching the truth for political gain.  Romney can be very effective if allowed to go unchecked. The president gave him free rein.

What we found most perplexing was the president’s failure to bring up any of the controversial events or statements attributed to Romney over the past several months.  Romney’s infamous comments about the 47% were never mentioned.  Romney’s record at Bain, his failed jobs record as governor, his secret  tax returns, his stance on women’s health care, abortion, immigration, unions…the president failed to hold Romney accountable on any of these subjects.  Perhaps the president was concerned that by attacking Romney he would endanger one of his most important attributes in the polls…likeability. If that is the case then he traded in “likeability” for “competence”; because Mitt Romney certainly appeared to be the more competent candidate in this debate.

In the end Mitt Romney did what he needed to do.  If the president had performed up to expectations he could have effectively ended this race.  Romney stopped him cold.  He pumped new life into a dying campaign.  He calmed nervous donors and gave them reason to continue giving to his cause.  And his more moderate tone will go a long way toward persuading undecided voters.

Now the fact checkers will enter the fray.  They will have a field day with the unfettered nonsense that Romney was peddling.  But the average voter won’t get that far down into the weeds.  All they will see is that Mitt Romney went toe to toe with the President of the United States…and won. 

The polls will tighten…and Mitt Romney will live to fight another day.

As for the president…he will maintain his slim lead in the polls.  He will hear the wakeup call and he will respond.  And when he looks in the mirror he will exhale a deep sigh of relief that this was only the first debate…and not the last.