Puzzling over this tonight from Romney: “Syria is Iran’s only ally in the Arab world. It’s their route to the sea.”
Late Update: Not the first time Romney has said this, apparently. More here.
One of the best points in the debate was when Mitt Romney suggested that President Ahmadinejad of Iran could be indicted for what amounts to pre-cog genocide.
I would make sure that Ahmadinejad would be indicted for genocide. His words amount to genocide.
As a Jew I take genocide pretty seriously. But words don’t amount to genocide. And what is Mitt talking about? Our Benjy Sarlin asked about this in the spin room and Mitt’s aides seemed to suggest that this UN/Hague indictment would lead to Ahmadinejad’s arrest and well … problem solved. Call in the Blue Helmets! They’ll solve this one.
We’ll have more on this soon.
According to the CBS News instapoll Romney won debate one 46 to 22.
According to the same poll, President Obama won this one 53 to 23.
Seeing a lot of reporters and pundits trying to catch up with the public reaction.
Shorter Mitt Romney: We’d do exactly what you’re doing. But I’d be President!
From the CBS instapoll of uncommitted voters:
Who won the #Debate? OBAMA: 53%; ROMNEY: 23%, TIE: 24% (Margin of Error: 4%; Sample Size: 521)
I’ll have some more thoughts in a bit. Here’s my quick reaction. The first half hour was a draw, though President Obama scored by default when Romney either didn’t or couldn’t attack on Libya.
After that though Romney began to falter as Obama became more direct, organized and declarative. Romney seemed increasingly lost. Obama seemed comfortable, happy. The visuals told the story. Romney was sweating a lot and looked like he was in pain. Into the second half of the debate Romney’s answers seemed more jumbled and unfocused. There was even that rambling and generally uncontroversial digression on Pakistan. Why? He seemed lost.
Translated into Romney visuals he had what President Obama had in the first debate: that look of someone who wanted to be anywhere but on that stage.
10:28 PM: Mitt: I love Teachers!!!!
10:29 PM: The auto bailout is Romney’s greatest Etch-a-Sketch. Yes, he wanted a managed bankruptcy. But he refused the government assistance that was essential to keep the companies out of liquidation. Because at the time it wasn’t popular. He can’t undo what he did and said. He’s stuck.
10:32 PM: Romney says he’s optimistic and pumped but he’s sweating like a pig.
10:33 PM: Key quotes and more at TPMLiveWire.
10:34 PM: I dissed Bob Schiefer a bit at the outset. I was wrong. I think he did really well. Invisible in a sense but in a subtle guiding way.