Obama Indictment in Long Island

Obama certainly came out more - energized - at last night's debate.  And considering how poor he looked in comparison to Romney at the first debate, that was enough for many to consider the debate close or a draw.  But I think if you look under the surface, Romney made strong progress on some of the most important issues that will determine the outcome of the election.

For one thing, although many of the "flash polls" right after the debate were very close or gave Obama a slightly edge in "who won," when details were asked in those same polls on things like who seemed the better leader, who was stronger on the economy, on the deficit, etc., Romney won resoundingly on those questions.  When independents/undecideds were asked who won the debate, they picked Romney.  It was only when already-committed Democrats were included that you saw the slight edge for Obama.

Where was Romney most effective?  For one thing, he is disciplined and strong in the most important message of his campaign: that his primary focus would be on the economy and getting good and higher paying jobs back in America.  And the corollary to that is that President Obama has a terrible record on this issue...in fact has failed to fulfill most of what he said he would do four years ago.  Obama has failed miserably.

Romney's strongest moment seemed to be when a questioner who was obviously disappointed in Obama's record of the past four years asked what the President would do differently in the next four years.  Obama really had no memorable answer, but Romney used the opportunity to give a two-minute indictment of Obama's record.  The comparison between Romney and Obama here was as clarifying as anything in the debate.

In terms of style, this debate was bound to be different from the first, and more difficult for Romney, if only because when your opponent is throwing around aggression and attacks, you have to give at least some effective response or you look weak.  Romney handled that OK, though perhaps not perfectly, and the result was a more contentious debate that will have turned some people off.  Most, however, will have expected this kind of thing from a debate like this and see it as "par for the course."

In the end, there is one matter that will get a lot of attention based on the discussion in this debate - and I predict it will redound to Obama's dishonor.  And that is the discussion about Libya and Benghazi.  Many are saying that Romney missed an opportunity to really nail Obama on this issue.  Well, maybe he could have done better, but in a way he will have set up the discussion between now and the debate next Monday on this issue very well, and the discussion in the press about it cannot look good for Obama at all.  When Candy Crowley, the moderator, tried to "fact check" Romney on the spot about Obama's initial reaction to the attacks in Benghazi, she not only looked bad herself in seeming to step into the debate on the side of Obama, but it turns out she was essentially wrong about the matter.  So in the discussion to follow that will be discussed, and Obama's handling of the situation will look worse.  And that discussion will continue in next Monday's debate, which has a focus on foreign policy.  Watch for Romney to be very clear on the matter there, and the public will be ready to pay full attention.

We have a lot to do in the last couple of weeks before Election Day.  Talk to your friends around the country and in your circles.  Let's get this done.  We need new leadership in the White House, and it can't come soon enough.