Winning Matters, a Third Presidential Debate Review by Michael L. Johnson

Winning Matters, a Third Presidential Debate Review

by Michael L. Johnson

The series of presidential debates that just ended were each like rounds in a title fight. In the final installment of that political prize fight for the most powerful job in the world, President Obama won handily against challenger, Governor Mitt Romney. His strategy was clear: attack. That battle plan served him well in the second debate, and it served him even better in the third. President Obama scored decisively when he talked about Romney's foreign policy flip flops. He also performed well when he pointed out that Romney had simply been copying his positions, and posturing as if they were his own. Romney looked stunned most of the night, though he tried to cover it with smiles. That is kind of like what fighters do when they know they have been hit with a good punch. To the extent to which Governor Romney was able to push the flow of the debate in the direction of domestic issues, he was effective. I'll give him that. However, those instances were few.

It is interesting to note that some people are saying that President Obama's victory doesn't matter in the long run of the presidential battle. I doubt if they'd be saying that if Romney had won this last debate.  One headline I saw in Yahoo News proclaimed, “Obama Wins Third Debate but Romney Wins Debate Season.”1 Another headline, from an article by Brett O' Donnell, stated that “...Obama Wins Third Debate, but Romney Wins Debate War.”2 With all due respect to those honorable folks, that's bullshit. You don't win a heavy weight title fight if you lose most of the rounds—political or otherwise. In terms of the debate: Romney lost, President Obama won, America loves a winner.  Roll credits.

The Good (President Obama): He was poised and confident as he attacked Romney on his political position shifts. His illustrations of his successes in office were triumphs. Again, Obama thinks well on his feet and he certainly appeared the most presidential of the two opponents (perhaps because he is).
The Bad: He was, arguably, a bit patronizing to Romney.

The Good (Governor Romney): He wore a nice tie and can memorize talking points.
The Bad: He stumbled, and was awkward in his rhetorical assaults. He was much too subdued in his attacks on President Obama to be effective. He also agreed with President Obama to such an extent that it made you wonder why he was challenging him.

The Rating (1 to 5 where 5 is best):
President Obama: 4
Governor Romney: 1.5

--MLJ