Who is winning the first half-hour...

[WI_DEM]

I thought Obama started slowly, but now Romney is just manic and making a fool of himself throwing tantrums over whose going to get the last word. Obama is presidential. Mitt is acting a bit childish.

What do you think?

[earthside]

1. Rmoney. n/t

[OldDem2012]

9. Which debate are you watching? The one on Fox or another channel?

[Honeycombe8]

31. I gotta agree. nt

[graywarrior]

2. A bunch of folks on fb thinks he's killing Obama

[MichiganVote]

3. I think that Obama has raised kids who don't lie to him unlike.....

[grantcart]

22. hahahaha

[DURHAM D]

4. Mitt is controlling the clock.

[dhill926]

15. yep......

[grantcart]

24. is he interesting to independents

[Rosa Luxemburg]

5. Mitt sounds like Dubya after a few glasses

[WinkyDink]

6. Mentioning killing PBS was a big blunder.

[mvd]

7. Obama easily

[awake]

8. agree the wheels are getting lose

Mitt Whitt is getting manic

[bakpakr]

10. Hate to say it but,

Mittens is actually winning. Pres. Obama NEEDS to go on the offensive and not be as defensive as he is being. Hit him hard!!!

[GreenPartyVoter]

33. Unfortunately, I agree. I think the average voter may like what he is saying and how he is saying it

[NYC Liberal]

11. Obama is warmed up and on his game now. Romney getting aggressive in a bad way.

[Systematic Chaos]

12. Mitt is a royal asshole, but Obama could be more aggressive and still seem presidential.

This whole thing is just annoying the living shit out of me so far.

Of course, your mileage may vary....

[dhill926]

13. trying to watch as an....

average American. Think Mitt is winning. He's lecturing. Will only piss off folks like us. Bit like Bush and Gore. Not liking this at all.....

[WilliamPitt]

14. Romney is dominating

He's lying and not being called on it by Obama.

Obama is going small, and that's a big mistake.

[DURHAM D]

19. Agree 100%

[bluethruandthru]

16. romney is eating obama's lunch.

The president needs to call romney out on jobs...remind people that what mitt says is NOT what he does! He ships jobs overseas...he ships his own money out of the country to avoid taxes.

[MarthaMyDear]

17. Mittens gets a lot more worked into his time allotted...

...but it makes no sense and he seems flustered.

[fishwax]

28. " ...but it makes no sense and he seems flustered."

Yep, I'd say that's pretty close to the mark.

[catbyte]

18. Romney sounds better than Obama at this point. Not good

[Lex]

26. Romney sounds whiny and pleading.

[fishwax]

20. They're still feeling each other out -- more or less a draw, at worst

I would give the edge to Obama because his demeanor (especially in the face) of Romney's weird distortions of Obama's record and Romney's own policies. Romney is getting increasingly frantic, and now it's starting to sound whiny. Obama is certainly winning on the calm, cool, and presidential measure.

[qanda]

21. Not sure what everyone is watching

Romney seems so prickly to me. His first answer was good but after that it was just blah, blah, blah to me.

[Xyzse]

23. I don't know

You see, even if I agree with Obama's points and his delivery, Romney is being aggressive in a way that some people would actually like a lot.

Even if Romney is not giving any specifics or any sort of actual logic he is going after key points that people fall for.

Right now Obama is giving a nice little explanation that I can appreciate.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

25. romney is a loud mouth!

[Bonobo]

27. Honestly, Romney is. Like it or not, it's true. nt

[Pisces]

29. The twit! Aarrgghhh!!

[Robb]

30. Romney is getting all the rope he needs.

Obama's on target.

[bdamomma]

32. Romney's nose

is getting longer and longer.....................................

[JohnA1]

34. Romney winning

Romney is winning unfortunately. Hes taking command of the debate and running over Obama. He seems more passionate even though hes lying through his damn teeth.

I Am dissapointed in Obama. He needs to fight more! Damn its frustrating.So much he could call Romney out on.

[nobodyspecial]

46. Please learn how to spell before trying to pass yourself off as a Democrat

[Autumn]

35. Not winning it, but Mittens seems to be dominating it.

Obama will step it up though.

[highplainsdem]

36. Romney's dominating so far, especially in terms of hogging time. He's also being very irritating,

sounding like the bully he is at times. OTOH, there are a lot of people who will interpret that as "leadership."

The President is more thoughtful, more sympathetic, but could be more aggressive in responding to Romney.

[highplainsdem]

45. The President's responses are getting more forceful, which is good.

[TreasonousBastard]

37. Romney is full of shit and dead wrong, BUT...

he's showing far more confidence-- and bullshit wins when it's confident bullshit.

Obama is is in defensive mode, a very bad place to be, and just not making his case with his hesitant pauses.

If I weren't in Obama's camp and know where Romney's flat out lying, I'd think Romney is making the stronger case.

[abumbyanyothername]

48. Unfortunately for television

Obama has the habit of thinking carefully before speaking.

[Stryder]

38. To Joe average...

Looks like a toss up.
Wait o's about to respond to 760bil outta medicaid

[laruemtt]

39. Obama.

Rmoney's coming off like an unstable bully.

[mvd]

40. Mitt does not seem Presidential

Obama doesn't NEED to do more to beat that manic creep. I mean how do you respond to ranting and raving.

[WinkyDink]

41. Re-phrasing: "Who is lying to the American public?"

[Safetykitten]

42. It's teh RmoneyShow and Variety Hour with the June Taylor Dancers

[Raine]

43. Rmoney was at first but should've quit after wishing Obama a happy anniversary cause he went

downhill ever since and became completely flustered and stupid.

[JCMach1]

44. no one... MEGO factor

very bad debate all-around

[Lightbulb_on]

47. Romney seems to be dominating...

Obama is being passive.

Also, during the bit about insurance lost due to Obamacare POTUS is staring at the floor. He seems flustered or frustrated or something.

[highplainsdem]

49. Just checked Cenk Uygar's tweets:

http://twitter.com/cenkuygur

Tactically Romney is doing well by sounding strong in his explanation of his tax plan, though it doesn't add up.


Tactically and stylistically, Romney is winning so far. He's coming on strong. Seems to have brought his A game.


Pres. Obama saying we've tried both methods and know the results, the 8 years of Bush vs. 8 years of Clinton was his best point.


Pres. Obama isn't in Denver, he's debating from Wonkland. Make passionate points!

[Autumn]

51. Maybe Obama spent too much time with John Kerry.

Flat and wonkish.

[demwing]

50. Romney started strong

but is frantic now, exactly as you said.