# The first presidential debate: 10/3/2012 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 3, 2012, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602 "2012-10-03T17:16:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 26
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/501 "2012-10-04T20:56:45Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > [Obama approval rating at highest level since 2009](http://www.businessinsider.com/obama-approval-rating-gallup-debate-romney-2012-10?nr_email_referer=1&utm_source=Triggermail&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Business%20Insider%20Select&utm_campaign=Business%20Insider%20Select%202012-10-04) I would think that was mostly before the debate. It will be interesting to watch the polls. Nate ran a quick and dirty regression of the poll impact of debates and estimated a two point boost for Romney. That doesn’t sound unreasonable though if the Obama campaign can get in front of the story and hit Romney hard over his shiftiness, it could be smaller. I also think whatever bump Romney gets will fade away fast. Of course there will be a jobs report tomorrow which will also be in the mix. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/502 "2012-10-04T20:57:15Z")
I’m pretty sure it was a pre-debate poll. We will see… this one is done daily, with the results released the next day. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/503 "2012-10-04T21:00:55Z")
That Gallup poll made a huge jump for a 3-day poll. 4 points in a single day is a big jump. I don’t really see anything in the news that explains that jump, so I’m guessing outlier. ---
**Author:** ![Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omg_a_Black_Conservative)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/504 "2012-10-04T21:02:33Z")
> [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](#): > > The thing is that Obama tried to treat Americans like an adult. I quite loudly call BS on this statement. > [@](#): > > Was it a bad strategy? Apparently. Did it work? No. Do you not think that he will change things up in the next debates? Do you really think this puts the election in the win category for Romney? Really? Perhaps you need to go back and rewatch the debate, because Obama sure as hell didn’t “selectively choose” what to respond to. He made some statements, Romney called BS on the statements and Obama became flustered and unable to respond (look at his body language for I’d say a good 70% of the debate). Those are not the actions of someone “selectively choosing” what to argue, but of someone who is clearly uncomfortable (I laughed when he asked to move off of the topic of the economy). As it is, iirc, the next presidential debate is foreign policy. That’ll be fun. > [@](#): > > Obama supporters are realistic enough to realize that was not a good debate for Obama. The only set of realism in the last four years, if I may say (/obviouspartisandig). > [@](#): > > Romney supporters apparently are not realistic enough to see what that really means, which is why they trot out “teleprompter” garbage. Could you tell me what it really means, since you’re so much smarter/more informed than I am? ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/505 "2012-10-04T21:21:14Z")
I’m not reading this whole thread. All I can say is that the absurdity of calling the person who can be the rudest bully with the most lies the “winner” in a debate is stunning. Is this really how we want to judge the candidates for the most important job in the entire world — on who bloviated the loudest? I’m as pissed as the next left-winger that Obama let so many lies go completely unchallenged, but just because Romney got away with lying doesn’t mean he “won” anything. On poise, courtesy, “presidentiality,” and a superior grasp on the facts, Obama won that debate hands down. To portray it otherwise is to encourage the kind of schoolyard tactics that we’re trying to teach our kids _not_ to do! Jesus what a debacle that was. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/506 "2012-10-04T21:21:16Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > I quite loudly call BS on this statement. Adults don’t cry loudly. This is why Obama was wrong to treat you like an adult. From the [Politico](http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1012/82037.html?hp=t1)story I linked above: > [@](#): > > Asked why Obama did not bring up several of the central themes in his brief against Romney, Axelrod answered: “Plainly, he didn’t come as focused and intense as Gov. Romney at dropping particular lines. **His interest was in honoring the American people with honest answers to serious questions.** ” Emphasis mine. But have it your way: This one debate clinched it for Romney. May as well save the carfare not even vote, you got this one in the bag. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/507 "2012-10-04T21:22:29Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > …thrown lobs… Is this your “out” whenever someone you don’t like does well in a sit-down interview? ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/508 "2012-10-04T21:25:58Z")
> [@Lantern](#): > > I would think that was mostly before the debate. It will be interesting to watch the polls. Nate ran a quick and dirty regression of the poll impact of debates and estimated a two point boost for Romney. That doesn’t sound unreasonable though if the Obama campaign can get in front of the story and hit Romney hard over his shiftiness, it could be smaller. I also think whatever bump Romney gets will fade away fast. Of course there will be a jobs report tomorrow which will also be in the mix. Obama didn’t get in front of the story. Everyone is talking about how well Romney did, but it wasn’t really that good. Romney certainly performed better, but there just aren’t any real gotcha moments. It was a very policy oriented debate and Romney was a better salesman, but he didn’t smash anything out of the park. Listening to the “Romney Nailed It”, headlines though, you would think he did. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/509 "2012-10-04T21:32:48Z")
I just wish people would stop using the words “win” or “winner” with regards to the “debate”. This isn’t the type of “debate” that can be won. Neither candidate was asked to affirmatively defend any topical position. They were merely asked to compare and contrast their differences and qualities. It was more like a dating game show. Saying either “won” or even could win is silly. ---
**Author:** ![NamelessKing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b38774/32.png) [@NamelessKing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NamelessKing)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/510 "2012-10-04T21:50:51Z")
I was surprised by how Romney improved for the debate last night. He still made use of too many soundbites though, and I imagine that a calm and collected president doesn’t stick in people’s minds as much as an animated and energetic candidate. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/511 "2012-10-04T21:54:08Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > I just wish people would stop using the words “win” or “winner” with regards to the “debate”. Okay - Obama sure lost this one badly, didn’t he? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/512 "2012-10-04T21:54:11Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > One more point I think Obama fails on is allowing everyone to refer to the Affordable Health Care for America Act as Obamacare. I think he should have requested that it be called by its actual name. It’s much easier to criticize something that has a less official sounding name to it. It’s probably not a big deal, but I was kind of surprised that he went along with calling it “Obamacare.” He has embraced Obamacare for months. It is nothing new. I am surprised he didn’t refer to “Romneycare” in Massachusetts, though. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/513 "2012-10-04T21:54:49Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > You should be. > > It will never be acceptable for another Republican to occupy the Oval Office. This is a well-known fact. > [@control-z](#): > > That is a stunningly short-sighted and closed-minded statement. No it’s not. it’s been the case since at least 1973. Nothing short about that. P. S. The Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Bush, and Bush Administrations are my cite. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/514 "2012-10-04T21:58:23Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Okay - Obama sure lost this one badly, didn’t he? > > Regards, > Shodan Whatever you want to call it, Romney did much better. Did Obama really lose anything, though? We’ll have to wait for the polls. And of course the election. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/515 "2012-10-04T21:58:56Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Okay - Obama sure lost this one badly, didn’t he? I am going to give you this one, because it will be small comfort on November 7. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/516 "2012-10-04T23:07:04Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > Personally, I’d like to see the Obama in full on lame-duck, nothing much to lose mode. You may have a point. But it will be far more satisfactory for him to be operating in that mode for fifty months, rather than just two. ---
**Author:** ![Troutsqueezer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Troutsqueezer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troutsqueezer)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/517 "2012-10-04T23:29:02Z")
I’ve read about the first 50% of these posts on this thread, starting with the first post where some folks were speculating and pontificating about how it would come off based on their perceptions of the two candidate’s abilities. Now that it is said and done and one goes back and re-reads the early posts, one thing I can say for sure. There sure a lot of people in this forum who think they have such a good grasp of political scene and know the candidates inside and out but the truth is, 95% of the posters to this thread came out looking like fools. You should be be embarrassed. There ain’t no political geniuses hanging around Straight Dope, that’s for sure. There were two people on that stage last night, one knew what he was doing and the other did not. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/518 "2012-10-05T00:11:48Z")
> [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](#): > > “Ugh, ummm, ummmm, ah, well Teleprompter…” :rolleyes: > > The thing is that Obama tried to treat Americans like an adult. Replies like yours are the reason why this was a bad strategy - as David Axelrod admitted: > > > [@](#): > > > > “He made a choice last night to answer the questions that were asked and to talk to the American people about what we need to move forward, and not to get into serial fact-checking with Gov. Romney, which can be an exhausting, never-ending pursuit,” Axelrod said. “Obviously, moving forward, we are going to take a hard look at this, and we are going to have to make some judgments about where to draw the lines in these debates and how to use our time.” > > > > Politico Okay [NEW](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YOh-rpvjYg) strategy… ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/519 "2012-10-05T00:14:23Z")
That’s a bit much. One was prepared and one wasn’t. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/520 "2012-10-05T00:34:51Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Next debate is foreign policy. Expect some round-for-round on China, obviously Iran, Israel, Libya… maybe Mexico if they have time for it. Not exactly. That’s the last one at Lynn University in Boca. The next one is a [**Town meeting format including foreign and domestic policy**](http://www.2012presidentialelectionnews.com/2012-debate-schedule/2012-presidential-debate-schedule/). Still, Obama should do much better, both due to the format and the latitude of the topics. Personally, I’m most interested in the last one @Lynn. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602.md?page=25) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602.md?page=27)