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Former Bush senior adviser breaks down key moments in the second presidential debate and who came out with momentum
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Why -- -- lowering taxes on the middle class because under the last four years they've been buried.
And I want to help people -- class and I will not.
I will not under any circumstances.
Reduce the share that's being paid by the highest income taxpayers and I will not under any circumstances.
Increase taxes on the middle class.
Tonight's debate to aim must win for President Obama and governor Romney trying to increase his momentum so how does the race look after debate number two -- -- Joins us how your thoughts.
We'll look this didn't change -- dynamic in the debate let's let's roll the clock back to last week.
The Gallup poll said that by a margin of seven 220 Americans thought Romney won the debate.
So Obama needed to win by -- -- win tonight's debate by an equally convincing margin in order to change that dynamic he did this thing as a draw.
I think frankly Romney won the evening for reason I'd like to get into but.
But it is didn't change the dynamic of the race people looked last week and said you know what.
Tehran he seems to have a plan he seems to be a nice guy seems to be -- -- know what he needs to -- he seems to be -- and President Obama does not seem to have an idea what he.
Wants to do and simply keep pointing to you know -- good things are today so.
This was this was not a and you know was an okay evening for the president.
The good evening for Romney I think at the end of the day it's not gonna change that dynamic of the race.
And the dynamic of the race today and Gallup likely voters daily tracking poll was probably fifty Obama 46.
I OK since you said they'd like to get into Iowa Linus and so -- people made -- have that view that you do some do some don't tell me right.
Thank you he -- They look first of all -- what do we talk we get too stuck in who won what debating point over what what and how did they handle it looked.
Both guys had success has denied -- both guys had.
Had shortcomings of -- that they've both got way -- you don't eager and aggressive the president particularly so in the -- -- circling around each other.
They've been -- a -- governor Romney had.
My opinion made a mistake asking questions.
President Obama you never ask that question and give your opponent a chance to offer an answer -- you you can offer and offer the answer for him.
But that the main thing about the debate is -- what are the independent voters in the undecided voters looking for they're looking for strength.
They're looking for character and they're looking for somebody who seems to have a plan to move things forward and once again -- that -- Obama his strength was being aggressive.
But he had three things to do and he is so much time being aggressive they can only do one other thing which was defend what -- done.
He did not have a chance to do what he really needed to do which was to lay out.
Take comprehensive vision for what I'm gonna do in the next four years instead it was I'm going after Romney with things that fell flat in recent governor Ronnie says yes a five point plan.
But it's really a one point plan and that is still you know -- giving give it to tax giveaways to the ritual that may go for the true believer who was upset with President Obama last week about his.
-- and performance.
But that Cadillac does it does nothing from the independent voters who've been hearing a variation of that for months.
And last week started saying we -- what -- does have a plan -- does seem to know what it.
Wants to do -- it's common sense in practice you all and I like that so this is not a good night for the president even if he scored debating points.
He -- he won the point and lost the argument.
You know I even watching it out and I've heard both of -- economic times and I actually thought that cheap points they had to make this isn't with so overshadowed by the by the -- aspect to it happened I don't mean -- I felt uncomfortable watch in advance and knock down drag out fights that -- my perfectly capable of getting into a -- myself but as a spectator.
I did not find that I was learning -- I felt almost like a boy you're watching two men who don't like each other trying to kill each other.
Well and then look.
Did the narrative going into this was President Obama was going to be more aggressive President Obama was gonna go on the offense pres Obama's gonna come in here throwing hay makers and you know taken -- -- by Ford running so you know in that sort of happened.
But I think people look at it and said you know what I -- like that and -- again more of the credit for that or the blame.
Is gonna -- President Obama he needed to come in tonight and and do what Romney did last week and that is dominated by having a vision by sand.
Here's what I wanna do here's why the next four years -- gonna be better here that concrete steps practical steps and I'm gonna do 12345.
And steady came out tonight and went after Romney.
And -- -- Romney made the mistake again you know a little bit -- engaged with them.
But it nonetheless it works more to the disadvantage of the president's and it does to Robby Robby has that narrative of practical common sense guy that I suddenly -- I can relate to.
Who has a 12345.
Steps that he's gonna do and and and and that's what the election is about the future not the past.
To the -- is about the pastor gets prosecuted better by Romney -- and the president had a chance to do these things and failed not by the president saying no we've done all the right things and all we need to do is stay the course status quo.
Doesn't win re elections.
You've got to say I've done a good job and here's the changes that are coming that I need to fight for.
-- changing how they did -- each other President Obama got in the 14% the big -- in the 47%.
And I heard governor Romney used the term buried several times in reference to when Vice President Biden and said that that the -- -- -- buried the last four years -- something to that -- mean there was there was our economy when they -- almost -- going to blows they were delivered -- jabbing each other out and hopefully sending a message to their base I guess that's why they're doing that.
Well the very comment was settled but it also you know -- resonated in of this is William in the middle class in America.
Ordinary Americans feel like the last four years -- not been good to him.
And you take a look at the president's radiance in in things like.
The Gallup question -- are you satisfied with the condition of the country.
Or or right track wrong track and the president's numbers are below those of every president who has won reelection and barely above the two in the modern era.
41 and Jimmy Carter who were defeated and the president's numbers on unemployment.
On second quarter GDP growth and on.
Beaubois on -- Participation in the war in the workforce.
All those numbers are below every president who's -- and below the presidents who lost.
I suppose is the one of the debates is for people have been living and breathing in this the last two years to -- chance a look at the candidates and so I should I should be you've been looking for about anything in particular but I didn't hear anything new tonight and maybe I'm just not the -- I'm not the audience -- -- looking for the looking for those who haven't been paying attention.
-- and like that's right.
Because -- a lot of people are just now waking up I was surprised you saw the numbers before the first debate.
A rather large number of people and in several -- that I really don't know enough about governor Romney I know sufficient amount about President Obama but I know far less about.
Governor Romney and you know that's just the reality of the nature of undecided and independent voters they take in less information.
They pay attention later rather than sooner they're capable -- holding deeply conflicting opinions on the same subject to the same time.
We've got -- increase taxes on the rich we shouldn't be raising taxes on anybody at this point they're fully capable of doing that.
And they tended look at these things late and tend to be influenced by big events and the debate that first debate.
With you know 67 million people tuned in and another three million people watching and on their.
Watching video or Internet.
That's a lot of people let's that's about half the number of people are going to be -- this -- and as a result had a huge impact and has a say it's not going to be I'm done.
By a so so performance by the president.
No good performance -- -- wanna diminishes a good performance.
But at best a draw or a slight victory.
He needed to dominate this night in a big way and in order to dominate tonight he needed to have Romney make a mistake you know we've seen one thing about Romney is a debater in the Republican primary.
And then last week is he's not gonna make mistakes.
-- not gonna make the mistake of being cautious he was.
He was bold tonight.
Go -- after the president's on some issues.
But particularly prosecuting the issue of the failure the president on the economy and I thought -- a pretty -- job on immigration to say basically.
You had a chance to do it -- you didn't do it.
Now they got into the weeds about what was even favour of Arizona and so forth and so on.
And the president drew down there and he had to get down there but the big issue if you had a chance Mr.
President to solve this problem.
When you were in complete control of congress and you didn't get it done in the president's response was to basically say well.
You know I I couldn't you you who you weren't supportive of my efforts of whatever efforts are made -- 2009 which was a weak weak response.
-- thank you.
You -- Greta thank you.
Had a good off the Dow.
