TELL US: Did the Presidential Debate Change Who You Support?
Local Republicans and Democrats both weighed in with their thoughts on Wednesday's presidential debate, but what was your reaction?
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While reactions have been mixed as to who won Wednesday's presidential debate between President Barack Obama and Republican Candidate Mitt Romney, Red and Blue Commonwealth flash polls sent to Massachusetts Republicans and Democrats immediately after the debate revealed that many thought Romney came out on top.
On the more local level, strong views were held by voters in both Republican and Democratic parties.
Republicans in Westwood said they felt Romney had the upper hand. Members of the Westwood Republican Town Committee, during a private viewing party, said they were pleased with the Presidential candidate's approach.
"From our perspective, Mitt Romney really laid out the path differently. He backed it up with facts. He was very well spoken," said committee member Elena Niell.
Added Republican Doug Obey, "Obama honestly believes in social responsibility. He believes the government should take care of everything. I loved how Romney used the trickle down and said the government has to get out of the way. We need individual responsibility."
Democratic voters at a viewing party at Centerfields Bar and Grille in Canton, meanwhile, remained on the President's side.
"The President was confident, cool, calm and collected, because that's what happens when you have a strong belief in your convictions," said Beverly Ritz of Canton.
Said John Kavin, co-chair of the Stoughton Democratic Committee, "This is the most important election we've seen in 50 years. It's a choice for America to see if the American Dream is still alive. The Romney plan would devastate anyone's ability to be upwardly mobile as well as devastate the infrastructure. Hoover Dam wasn't built by private industry."
But what do you think? Did Romney come out on top at the end of the debate, or did Obama seem to resonate more with voters? Did the debate change who you support? Let us know what you think in the comments section below!
Emcee of Seekonk
10:35 am on Thursday, October 4, 2012
"Did Romney come out on top at the end of the debate,..."
Definitely, yes. He controlled the entire debate.
"Did the debate change who you support?"
Prior to the debate, Romney was my choice because he was not Obama. Today, Romney is still my choice, but because he is Romney. I sincerely believe he would be a better leader for America and the the free world.
Sarah
1:53 pm on Thursday, October 4, 2012
i couldn't agree more! I was less than thrilled with Romney as my only choice. However, after last night, I couldnt be happier to see that we actually may have a true leader for our country again.
Obama is weak, and continually showes that he doesnt have any teeth. Sorry B.O. you dont get actual credit for killing Binladin, Seal Team Six does.
Chris
10:54 am on Thursday, October 4, 2012
I have no dog in this fight because I'm an Independent. But, I thought Romney won the debate. At times, it looked like an experienced millionaire businessman vs. a career student. I thought Obama had some good points but a lot of his points seemed prepared.
Elaine Dahlgren
12:44 pm on Thursday, October 4, 2012
Romney was superior!!!
D B Martin
12:54 pm on Thursday, October 4, 2012
Obama was lost with out his handler, and teleprompter. He is no Bill Clinton, as Carl Rowe tweeted, during the debate. As my father use to say Romney gave Obama as good old barn yard whipping. Remember in 2007, G. Bush inherited an Democratic Congress, and Senate, and the blame for financial melt down. Most were the doing of both houses be controlled by the democrats.
Jean Southard
1:44 pm on Thursday, October 4, 2012
It was clear to me that this was Romney's big night out, but just one more thing on the President's very full plate. It's easy to look rested and prepared when you have nothing else to do but campaign. When Romney said he cared about the middle class, you have to remember that he thinks middle income is $250,000. I was disappointed that there were no questions about women's rights and LGBT rights. There's a clear choice this election. Romney protects the rich; Obama cares about the rest of us.
Mr. Ragman
2:13 pm on Thursday, October 4, 2012
as if women's (reproductive) rights & LBGT issues are paramount today - $4 birth control pills are now free - whoopie, what does that have to do with the price of tea in china?
vote your pocketbook not your who-who!
TWMSeven11
2:30 pm on Thursday, October 4, 2012
"It's easy to look rested and prepared when you have nothing else to do but campaign."
I'm not sure whom you're referring to. Obama has barely been performing the duties of president in the last few months as the campaign has heated up.
I voted for Obama in 2008 because I believed that we needed a change from the Bush era and thought he could deliver. Unfortunately, he hasn't lived up to any of his promises and failed to help the economy. It's time to give someone else a chance and granted Mitt Romney wouldn't be my first choice, he's getting my vote in November.
Sarah
4:46 pm on Thursday, October 4, 2012
Jean, could you please explain how Obama cares for me? I am speechless.
He has devalued the military. Oil, gas, food priced are throught the roof. Both my husband and I have had to take 15% paycuts to stay employed. Our health ins went way up as did the deductables that we have to pay to use it. We dont qualify to get on the "State plan" because our employers offer insurance (Think $10,000 deductable for our family plus $1200 per month). Thats ALOT of $$ for a very healthy family of 5.
would you like me to go on? Oh.. I would classify our family as lower Middle Class. Nobody cares for my family but me and my husband. No free phones, no free houses, no one but me pays the electric bill. We NEED a business man in office. Some one strong, Obama is not that man...
Indiana
2:22 pm on Thursday, October 4, 2012
If you watched the debate Jean you cannot come to that conclusion...Obama could care less about any of us. He has an agenda and it is all about Government. Every answer from him last night was government government government. I am socially liberal but as as far as fiscal goes - Romney is the guy
Richard W. Lunt
2:38 pm on Thursday, October 4, 2012
Mitt Romney was polished, precise and knowledgeable in his answers. The President looked timid and he definitely needed the aid of a teleprompter. The debate didn't change my mind because I was always going to vote for Mitt Romney for President. In no way would I ever vote for a left wing liberal socialist Democrat.
deb of see-attleboro
2:47 pm on Thursday, October 4, 2012
Jean Southard: Romney is being honest. A family taking in 250K IS middle income. Try giving your kids a decent education on any less.
Indiana
2:52 pm on Thursday, October 4, 2012
Is this what our schools mass. are like as well?
http://video.foxnews.com/v/1877233352001/
Avon Barksdale
3:35 pm on Thursday, October 4, 2012
Whatever that is, I'm sure Fox News got it 100% right, and whatever the school did was outrageous and crazy and nobody needs to figure out what actually happened.
D. B. Cooper
4:07 pm on Thursday, October 4, 2012
Yes I'm sure your're a great arbitrator of the truth, yhee of the fake picture.
Fox news "Fair Balanced and Unafraid". But I'm sure you watch MSNBC with more letters in its title than viewers. Great butch haircut on Mathers, she couldn't change her thinking if her life depended on it.
Avon Barksdale
4:39 pm on Thursday, October 4, 2012
I don't watch any of it, and most people would do themselves well to do the same. I used to watch a lot of it, then came to the realization that everyone at every news channel is laughing at how dumb their audiences are. Hell, I don't even know who Mathers is. And I don't claim that my picture is real, whereas the news channels claim that their facts are correct and their analysis is unbiased.
If you'd take a few minutes break from desperately trying to lash out at "the other side" for their supposed destruction of America (while typing with one hand, no doubt given how "passionate" you seem to be) you might figure out that neither party cares about you or anyone else but themselves and their very wealthy backers. And that the election will be decided in the same way as every other election - a few days before Election Day, roughly 30% of the electorate in a couple of battleground states - folks who are currently uncommitted - will make their choice of candidate based on some bizarre stimulus that influenced their opinion and stuck with them ("I didn't like the way the other guy looked into the camera, I trust this guy"). And then we will call the winner the president and start the news cycle all over again, pausing only for a natural disaster or a possible terror attack.
Indiana
5:28 pm on Thursday, October 4, 2012
Yes - MSNBC - CNN - PBS - ABC - NBC - CBS - on one side swearing to everything Obama lies about . Fox - on the other side