After a less than stellar performance, various news reports stated that President Barack Obama would come out.
They were not wrong. His performance this time around was more aggressive and more passionate than the last debate.
However, that does not mean that Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney was coy and passive.
Quite the contrary. Romney was fired-up throughout much of the debate, occasionally interrupting Obama as well as CNN reporter and debate moderator Candy Crowley.
The debate started as it did last time: very civil. Neither candidate looked like they were going to knock each other out, no one was trampling the moderator, and all was right with the debate world.
Then the bottom fell out and the gloves came off. Here's a little play-by-play:
1. (16th minute) The oil production issue: Romney get confrontational with Obama; he asks him a question about how many oil permits he cut. When Obama attempts to either answer the question or deviate slightly by putting it into context, Romney repeatedly asks his question while getting in Obama's face.
My take: aggression is good, but too much would probably turn off voters. You're fighting this guy for his job, but he's still POTUS. Romney should have backed off a little and shown a bit of respect.
2. (20th minute) The oil production issue: Mitt Romney is trying to state that since Obama answered the last question, he gets the next. He attempts to 'Jim Lehrer' the moderator. He succeeds. Obama chimes in with "It's ok, Candy. I'm used to being interrupted".
My take: again, Romney's enthusiasm is admirable, but if anything is to be learned from the first debate, it's this: do not try to run over the moderator. That can make come off completely arrogant and pompous and may turn voters away from you.
3. (34th minute) Tax deduction issue: Romney attempts to run over the moderator again. Obama attempts to chime in to make sure he gets his turn.
My take: see previous opinion.
4. (38th minute) Gender pay issue: the infamous "binder full of women" statement makes it's appearance. Fun fact: 10-20 minutes later, a Twitter account parodying Romney's binder became active (it appears to have disappeared since then).
My take: this isn't necessarily a moment involving confrontation, just an odd moment. Romney has a binder full of women? I'm sure a lot of men would like to know your secret... other than that, it's just an odd statement.
5. (the 48th minute) The G.W. Bush issue: former president George W. Bush was brought up during this issue. Each candidate contrasted their ideas with that of George W. Bush.
My take: Obama attempted to explain Romney's stance on policies and explained how Mitt Romney would be a return to the same or worse. Obama was a little confusing on this issue because it encompassed so many different issues. What mainly struck me was that Obama said good things of the previous president. Very few people, even republicans, say good things of George W. Bush. He's that part of history some would rather forget... what were we talking about? Exactly.
6. (the 52nd moment) The next four years: Obama was a little slow presenting how things will get better. He lagged a little in delivery, so much so that he ran over the moderator a bit. The potency in what he said was there, the conciseness was not.
My take: Obama should have wrapped his moment up more quickly to avoid running over the moderator.
7. (64th minute) The immigration issue: they attempted to speak over each other again, along with the moderator. In order to make a point about investments in China, Romney asks if Obama had looked at his pension. Obama answered "no, I haven't because it's not a big as yours.". The moderator then reminds both of them that they strayed off topic. They continue bickering as if she was not even there.
My take: it was a cute quip, but it won't have a huge effect on Obama's performance; however, it does remind us that he is human. Again, they ran over the moderator (I would not be a broken record if they were not being repeat offenders). They need to work on that for the next debate.
8. (73rd minute) Libya: Romney either attempts to point out or clarify whether Obama called the attack in Libya a terrorist attack. The moderator then chimes in to correct Romney and inform him that Obama did in fact refer to the attack as an act of terror.
My take: Romney stumbled here. He was focused too much on whether or not Obama called it an act of terror instead of focusing on the slow gain of information regarding the event. This was a moment he could have capitalized more on. However, I saw it coming when Obama didn't interrupt Romney and basically told him to "please proceed, governor.". This was a dead-giveaway that Romney was digging a bit of a hole... well that and the fact that after the governor was corrected the audience started cheering. I found it very odd that the moderator had to correct Romney, but I suppose the media would have done that the next day.
9. (83rd minute) Gun rights: Obama runs slightly over the moderator again attempting to tie a few different societal factors in with gun rights.
My take: Do I really need to say it?
10. (The final 4 minutes) Closing statements: Mitt Romney explains he is for 100 percent of the people. Obama finally brings up the infamous 47 percent comment.
My take: Obama wisely brought up the comment that Mitt Romney made during a fundraiser. This was something that may help. However, it would probably have helped considerably more if he had mentioned it during the first debate.
During the next debate, one would hope they not try to run over each other or the moderator. If all else fails, either give them boxing gloves or cut their microphones when they don't stop talking. It's efficient and it's only logical.
