Romney was clear winner in debate

Guest Column

ln WednesdayI lct. PI the bell rang to signal the start to the hypothetical boxing match known as the OMNO presiGHnWLDO GHEDWHV. 7KH fiUVW URunG wDV exciting as Mitt Romney quickly took control while President lbama looked weak and frailI taking punch after punchI sulking to himself in his corner of the ring.

qhe governor of Massachusetts appears to now be in the driver’s seat for WKH UHVW RI WKH fiJKW, EuW Ln WKH HnG, WKH YRWHUV GHWHUPLnH WKH finDO VFRUH.

qo Republicans and aemocrats alikeI a champion seems to have been crowned for round oneI but not the race as a whole. aespite the president’s poor performanceI he seems to still be the favorite to win this election. qhe viewers should feel the current winner of this race is the candidate that has EHHn WKH fiUVW WR WDNH FRnWURO, IRU WKH fiJKW KDV RnOy MuVW EHJun.

President lbama looked like he was flDW IURP WKH RSHnLnJ EHOO DV KLV ERGy movements clearly showed to the viewers. ee looked down constantly and didn’t seem interested in the topics being discussed.

Romney wisely took that as an opportunity to lay into the president with force; the zingers started coming.

“vou are entitled to your own house and your own airplaneI but not your own facts.” Right hook right between the eyes. qhey kept coming. Romney attacked lbama constantly about his record as president as well as his failed policies. qhe Republican candidate then dissed Big Bird; the left half of the crowd stood up and booed. “Low blow!” qhey seemed to scream in their homesI begging moderator Jim Lehrer to correctly referee the match.

“Where is Lehrer anyway?” Both liberals and conservatives wondered.

After time lbama was clearly defeated; looking dazed he had dropped WR KLV NnHHV DnG IHOO flDW Rn KLV IDFH, knocked out cold.

qhe comments and scoring after the debate have beenI for the most part unanimous.

“xRomney] drove the debateI had a coherent message that focused on jobsI showed a superior command of detailI was empathetic toward people hurtingI and looked the president in the eye. ee came in hungry.” (aavid Gergen CNNF

Even a neutral polling service (GallupF scored round one of the bout 4V percent to 4T percent in favor of Gov. Romney. Sifting through all of the bias commentary and critiquesI f do have to agree with the common belief that lbama lost this debate and may have hurt his large lead in the presidential race. cor the most part Romney clearly was in control and defeated his opponent. What this means for the rest of the election is the better question and source of concern for many lbama supporters.

Many Americans believe that the president will still win the electionI just by a slimmer margin than previously projected.

f think this shows how the public views debates and it is unfair in my eyes. qhese debates should hold more weight among voters because it is the chance to see both candidates in actionI to see the way that these two men handle themselves and show leadership. qoo much focus is being placed on the negatives that took place before lct. P. qhe candidates should have the opportunity to completely turn their chances around with a string of solid debates.

ln Wednesday nightI it was clear to me and about every other person view- ing the debate that our current leader is not as strong as we always thought he was in the limelight. We learned that President lbama is too passive and is afraid to be stern and strong. ee let Romney step all over himI knock him to the ground with lies and blows below the beltI but he refused to get up DnG fiJKW EDFN. HH UHIuVHG WR PDNH strong points that were based on fact that he knew would get the American people to remember who they voted LnWR RIfiFH Ln 2008.

qhe president’s poor performance should hurt him more than it will. People should think that this debate was not a good showing for our president. qhey have a right to be concerned about his performance. But a strong performance in the next debate for lbama should be able to help him come back from his previous loss and another Romney win should put the governor ahead in the polls adding to his debate lead.

aebates should and must become D PRUH VLJnLfiFDnW SDUW RI WKLV UDFH. qhey force the candidates to take ownership for their actions and prove to the American people that their policies are correct. qoo much weight is being held on the gaffes from Gov. Romney in the period of time before the debateI while the debate itself seems to be a small side note. qhis theoretical boxing match can be won ethically and truthfully winning over the people’s support while diminishing the prior mistakes of both parties. Can lbama regain his status as the champion of the world or will Gov. Romney continue his barrage of punches?

Matt Balick is a student at Abington Friends School in Jenkintown.