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'On the Record' panel breaks down President Obama and Mitt Romney's performances in Round 1 of their debate series
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Patricia first -- in a very tight praised President Obama and governor Romney each trying to convince voters especially the undecided that he is the one who can turn the economy around -- who got his message across tonight.
And -- any undecided voters swayed -- -- started.
The panel in Denver -- examiner chief political correspondent Byron York.
And Sam Young man from Reuters appeared watching Stephen Hayes of the weekly standard virus first tier and does not working down trump got a shout out shout out.
In my home town and Appleton Wisconsin got one as well brag about that but that.
If not -- any undecided voters possibly swayed a sick -- for us to know tonight.
Well well I thought it was Romney all the way I mean it was really really quite clear that Mitt Romney was very very prepared.
Managed to get that preparation across without the right had a bunch of canned lines.
The president and he seemed a little flabby and -- prepared I mean when your president.
You can cut off arguments and say that's we're gonna do this -- you can now say next question.
A lot of times you don't really have to grapple with somebody was asking really tough questions tonight he did as far as the the undecided voters are concerned.
It's been a lot of talk about people voters who really haven't paid a huge amount of attention up until now say really haven't seen much about Mitt Romney that produces rich guys may be put the dog as I was carbon they don't know anything about -- I think they saw somebody was very very prepared and presidential looking.
Steve.
Yeah I Andrew Bynum and I think this was about a.
Strong performance as governor Romney could have possibly expect -- -- -- he was -- he was precise with his points.
He every time there was an opening he seems to take it I was watching this with a room full of conservatives sort of policy -- types.
And -- see President Obama make an argument and we would -- say -- there's an opening Mitt Romney could say this in this.
And every single time he said those things that we were talking about there was one in particular on taxes where.
Have President Obama was talking about -- taxes and tax hikes and Mitt Romney came in and say you know mister president back in January of 2010.
You said that raising taxes in a downturn would hurt the economy.
And he said that at a time when economic growth was strong now economic growth is much weaker.
And -- proposing raising taxes I think it was a very strong argument and part of a very strong ninth at -- Mitt Romney come out aggressive and bold.
-- -- -- But they are legal approach tonight will we -- Vermont here in the democratic -- and the governor was preparing her and we -- Massachusetts is less this last week in the government preparing.
But woke up every day as -- why are we campaigning well tonight we found out -- -- -- the governor was preparing.
He was C was completely on his game tonight now I think he had some substantive issues that that the president's got to -- and throw back at him Don.
Wanting to replace Dodd-Frank that's the first I've heard say that and appearing to double down on -- wanna develop drugs Medicare.
But but I tell you dot have recognized the president's performance not the same -- I had college when I felt like I didn't need to study for an English exam because our new English.
You know I'm Steve -- -- It almost seemed like in the present very early on quick.
Now do you get right back up for the course for the next debate but I've never seems almost like me maybe -- -- -- did just went out of him I was surprised.
Busy -- is particularly dynamic -- speed and it's like.
I was surprised some -- -- Hey he certainly can't be dynamic and one reason -- bosses give him strong energetic speech in fact it was put -- -- -- it was very interesting the president.
Seemed to almost take issue with the fact that he was being challenged so directly.
By governor Romney -- these are challenges that he's not used to hearing he's not here -- staff he doesn't often enough -- them from the white house press corps.
And governor Romney was taking every single shot that President Obama took -- him.
And answering and I think and then turning quickly in launching an shot at that President Obama and I think President Obama just didn't expect that level kids.
-- -- was like in the spin room on the democratic chairman the president's people in their represent him his surrogates.
Well it was actually fascinating seconds after the debate ended.
The room was flooded with Romney advisors and -- at least a dozen of them who just -- and very eager to talk about Romney's performance so we all start talking them for awhile and several minutes past -- look around southern Democrats around here and they don't seem to be any.
And so after awhile Jim Messina and and that David -- and other top.
Obama officials did come in and talk but they were clearly having a little bit of a difficult time defending the president one more thing I thought was fascinating -- both up and there's Obama campaign has made a huge deal of Mitt Romney's 47%.
Remark.
The president did not mention it I asked both -- and Messina about that they -- not just didn't come up in the conversation.
I find it hard to believe it just didn't come out the president could put it in there decided not to do it perhaps you didn't think that's as big as the winner.
As some of us thought.
Sam -- doesn't -- didn't give a flip sadly didn't hit the lion I didn't build it although I do expect that the vice president to debate.
We might hear the issue about the middle class being buried in the last four years.
I don't I don't doubt that on -- and thank god think what we saw tonight is probably a wake up call for the president not just.
I don't I don't think he was that he was ready for this at all I do think we're gonna hear a lot more.
You know zinger says as they've been putting in in the upcoming debates debates I think we'll probably see a must feisty your president -- Obama going forward.
You -- -- -- -- similar -- -- great job and is saying I was a bit like while the money that quarterback but he let them talk and debate I.
A -- there for not taking more control of the debate.
I think the debates are here to have a substantive exchange between the candidates that allows them to show contrast to do in a polite.
Way that is precisely what happened tonight and if -- where would have interjected himself again and again and again.
I think we would have lost a lot of that dynamic and it's what made this advantage as successful -- I want us to be a facilitator which she -- go ahead so -- it does -- know not to say you know governor Romney jumped off the starting block and didn't stop running and I don't know the Chandler was any in any position to get there within the -- slowing down her and the president certainly seen didn't seem to want to.
Well I think I think a good matter -- one who is almost invisible and just a facilitator and if there isn't from -- the discussion debate stops.
Then jump since I should duct doesn't that -- he did a great job.
Anyway standby panel going to be back within a few minutes but up next a skyrocketing next -- day.
