This one was a toss up due to Mitt Romney's strategy of prudent bipartisanship, he couldn't fall far behind by maintaining a relatively close link to his opponent's successes - this tactic worked so well that it will now be abused to no end. Voters from either camp will feel reaffirmed by their candidate, undecided voters remain undecided; President Barack Obama maintains his lead in the polls. Below are my thoughts published live to @twitter during the event, provided in chronicle order, besides an immediate reference to Romney's Opinion Editorial referenced for fact checking his disdain for Detroit:
- #READ 2008 @mittromney Op-Ed in question, titled "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt" http://t.co/jLsmqWgT
- #Libya @mittromney complimented @barackobama while discussing the need for new comprehensive military strategies #irony
- #Libya @mittromney: my strategy is to get the Muslim world to reject extremism on its own, we don't want another Iraq
- @mittromney: ... in the last few years we've watched this rising tide of tumult in the Middle East, we want to see progress
- @barackobama: I'm glad you recognize Al Qaeda is a threat now since you thought it was #Russia a month ago, the Cold War is over
- @barackobama: Every time you've offered an opinion on foreign policy you've been wrong, not that you have any experience there
- @mittromney: Attacking me is not discussing a way forward, and please stop interrupting me with my own quotes, I do not concur!
- @barackobama takes control with bullet point lists and the authority of a presidency in action, @mittromney nods in the background
- @barackobama: I am confident that Assad's days are numbered, what we cannot do is turn gun ho in the region as @mittromney suggests
- @barackobama: Imagine we pulled out of #Libya when @mittromney suggested as much, we must maintain a leadership role in the area
- @mittromney: I don't want our military involved in #Syria, we should arm carefully vetted foreign organizations on our behalf
- @barackobama appears strong and assertive, @mittromney appears bored and disjointed, he may be battling indigestion
- @barackobama rambled a bit discussing #Egypt, discussing domestic educational policies in response to Mubarak was noticed
- @mittromney just returned the tangent by promoting world peace through a strong economy
- @mittromney: We need a strong military, then let me somehow segue into validating our current military as second to none
- @barackobama: the world needs a strong America, and America is stronger than when I came into office
- @barackobama: @mittromney has praised George Bush and Dick Cheney as economical stewards
- @mittromney: Fuel independency, trade with Latin America, more training programs, a balanced budget, and championing small business
- @barackobama has outright attacked @mittromney at every turn, this is the reverse of the first debate except #Romney is awake
- Bob Schieffer: Where will you get the military money @mittromney? You're welcome to look through our proposition on our web site
- @barackobama: we spend more on our military more than the next two countries combined, @mittromney's math doesn't work
- @mittromney just snapped at Bob Schieffer, his anxiety is becoming palpable as this loss grows on him
- @barackobama: this isn't a game of battleship @mittromney, our strength lays in our military capability and veterans
- @mittromney: I would like to echo the sentiments of @barackobama, I support #Israel, and stand against a nuclear capable #Iran
- @mittromney's plan tonight appears to be prudently agreeable with @barackobama, and gracefully disregard attacks
- @barackobama is the aggressor tonight, with or without volume, he has established himself as the alpha male at the table
- @mittromney: #Iran noticed when @barackobama said we will put daylight between ourselves and #Israel
- @mittromney: #Iran must not develop nuclear capabilities, we need tighter sanctions despite our tightest sanctions in history
- @mittromney: We're four years closer to a nuclear #Iran, we're four years closer to a nuclear #Iran, did I say that already?
- @mittromney just turned the tide and accused @barackobama of disregarding #Israel the ally and apologetic to #Iran the enemy
- @mittromney has buckled down in the second half and noticeably begun to stare down @barackobama's replies, tale of two halves
- @barackobama: @mittromney said we shouldn't need to move heaven and earth to search for one man, then I killed Osama Bin Laden
- @mittromney: Bob, you can't let @barackobama drawl on like that. Bob: You have as well sir. #Romney: You're probably right.
- *Binders Full of Women* took eight minutes, *Horses and Bayonets* took six minutes to reach @tumblr http://t.co/01V9yReU
- If a #Republican killed Bin Laden, Qaddafi, and brought the Dow back to 12,000 in four years, then he'd already be on Mount Rushmore
- #drones @mittromney: I feel @barackobama is right using this technology to go after threats
- We've confirmed the #mittromney strategy for the evening: agree with @barackobama where prudent and suggest it isn't enough
- @barackobama is noticeably countering the @mittromney strategy on the fly by stressing his administration over attacks now
- #future #threats @barackobama: We have to remain vigilant against terrorists and insist that #China plays by the rules
- @barackobama: ... @mittromney criticized me for being too tough, in other words, stop liesurely agreeing with my brilliance
- #threats @mittromney: @barackobama forgot to mention a nuclear #Iran as our greatest threat going forward #truth
- @mittromney: #China is counterfeiting our goods, stealing our intellectual property, manipulating our currency, etc. #trade #war
- @mittromney: I want a great relationship with #China despite everything I have already said and continue to say
- @barackobama: American exports have doubled to #China since I've been in office, and we must continue to thrive there
- @barackobama: #Detroit doesn't forget @mittromney, check the Op-Ed piece, you keep trying to airbrush history
- @barackobama: Bringing down our deficit by adding military spending money our military isn't requesting will not make us more competitive
- @barackobama: what we can't do is go back to policies that brought us here in the first place, #progress moves #forward
- @mittromney: @barackobama said he would have unemployment down to 5.4% by now #fact #reminder
- @mittromney: I love teachers. Bob Schieffer: I think we all love teachers.
- #close @barackobama: I will work every single day to make sure America continues to be the greatest nation on Earth
- #close @mittromney: I want to see growing peace in this country and pledge to maintain America as the hope of the Earth
- #close Bob Schieffer: Go vote, it makes you feel big and strong!
Interesting work Jorene! Would love to talk more about introducing you and my editor. Will be there tonight, though I'll be late. Hope you make it!