“I hate your tie.” “Well, I hate your tie more.”
That the race for the White House has tightened is undoubted. That it is still likely Obama will get back seems probable.
This article explains the current situation well, taking the likely feelings over the second deabte and translating them into likely results. Polls released in the next few days will be helpful too, and, of course, the last debate on Monday is shaping up to be very significant.
It is also going to be significant, I think, that it is on Foreign Policy.
Romney is not as strong here as Obama, it is widely acknowledged, and Obama’s anger at Romney going after him on the Benghazi incident was one of his strongest moments in Debate 2. “I find that offensive” he snarled, eyes flashing, and suddenly the man looked every inch a President and Commander-in-Chief. Looking every inch a President and Commander-in-Chief is exactly what he needs to do to get re-elected, so Monday will be interesting to say the least. Anyway, for someone’s views other than mine you would do worse than to read this excellent summary:
What does interest me in this article and much recent analysis is that Romney appears to be doing better in Florida than I expected, (where I have been regularly predicting a Democrat scare campaign on Medicare – although maybe the on the ground campaign is yet to begin in earnest, and volunteers – who make up the bulk of party workers – really get energised in the last couple of weeks), not as well in Virginia as he needs to be at this stage, and definitely not as well in Ohio (where he is being massively outspent on TV by Obama).
As he has to win all three states to win, I stick with my prediction that he can’t. Win. But heigh ho, forecasting elections is a tricky business, and I may yet have egg on my face.
What is also clear is that one major implosion by either candidate now will not leave time for a recovery.
One side note: the Fox News panel of undecided voters was actually made up of of EX Obama supporters – not drawn from the ranks of the genuine undecideds or independents. Not surprisingly, despite everyone else calling it for Obama by one margin or another, these actively disillusioned voters felt Romney did well and looked “Presidential”. What next, if Romney falters? A panel of tea party supporters?
What a bizarre pretence of journalism that network really is. Rupert Murdoch – busy tweeting his support of Romney, no less – take yet another bow for what you have done to our body politic.
Related articles
- Reaction to the Second Presidential Debate (politicalwire.com)
- | Analysis: So, will Obama’s best debate performance to date be enough? (truthaholics.wordpress.com)
- Web Poll: Who Do You Think Won The Debate? (philadelphia.cbslocal.com)
- Poll: Obama edges Romney in second debate (cbsnews.com)
- Winners and losers from the second presidential debate (washingtonpost.com)
- ‘Walmart moms’ say Obama won, but not by much (news.yahoo.com)
- Here’s How The Undecided Voters Were Selected To Ask Obama And Romney Questions At Tomorrow’s Debate (businessinsider.com)
- Poll: Obama edges Romney in second presidential debate (cbsnews.com)
- Obama gets tough on Romney in debate rematch (thehimalayantimes.com)
- AP Analysis: In blistering form, Obama rebounds (troyrecord.com)
Well, This Is What I Think 