10:20 PM: Again and again through this debate, Romney has left himself open to wounding hits from the president. Each time President Obama did not go there. He didn’t want the harsh hit. I’m curious whether that will turn out to have been a good decision.
10:22 PM: Again, this is my read from this debate. Energy and focus all in Romney’s hands on this. Obama simply hasn’t pressed any points where Romney said things that were demonstrably false. A bit on his tax cut plan, but not much. But how does it play over the next week? Romney’s been holding back all the details on his plans, basically refusing to talk about him. He’s put a lot on the table here, made a lot of claims which simply don’t add up. Obama hasn’t pressed the falsehoods or math that doesn’t make sense. Does the press do it tomorrow? How well do these claims wear? That’s how we’ll know how each did.
10:31 PM: I remember noting one thing about the 2004 debates, especially the first one. George Bush seemed not to like being criticized by a guy up there on the stage with him. President’s just don’t have that happen. They get criticized but not often to their face. Bush showed that in spades. And I feel like I’ve seen some of that from Obama tonight. A lot of grimacing.
9:51 PM: My read so far is that if you go by energy and tossing out lots of data points, then Romney is running circles around the president. Obama has only on a few occasions really pressed a point hard. Whether that means he’s ‘winning’ I don’t know. But energy level, Romney all the way. But I think there are a lot of traps that Obama’s put out there for Romney. Romney really pressed his insistence that he just isn’t going to do what he says his plan is going to do. I think those statements — and the statement about vouchers — might be unpacked badly for him over the next few days.
9:57 PM: Embracing Romneycare. Romneycare is awesome.
9:58 PM: A few great images so far of the debate.
10:02 PM: What’s really rough here is that Romney keeps restating points that have been discredited repeatedly over the last months and years. But Obama is letting it all slide by. Rough. Real rough.
10:06 PM: Ok, pre-existing conditions. Romney says his plan covers the same thing as the president’s. Not true. Wonder if he’s going to get called on it. Romney’s ‘plan’ is identical to the current system which is that you’re only covered if you have continuity of coverage.
10:11 PM: Romney walks away from his own tax plan.
9:29 PM: Bowles-Simpson has been rechristined!
9:31 PM: Obama rising to his game.
9:34 PM: Oil industry, “corporate welfare”. We’ll see pivoting off that tomorrow.
9:35 PM: “Time to end it.”
9:38 PM: I don’t think Romney wanted to say he needs a new accountant when it comes to sending stuff, doing business overseas.
9:39 PM: Romney’s ‘Big Bold Idea Is Never Mind’ On Taxes‘
9:42 PM: Obama’s approach in this debate is the anti-zinger. Substantive, generally not pressing arguments. He basically ceded Social Security and Medicare, said Romney and he basically agreed. Weird.
9:46 PM: “I don’t think vouchers are the right way to go.” Obama’s sort of rising to his game here.
9:47 PM: “What about vouchers?”
9:49 PM: Bill Clinton!!!!
8:59 PM: Okay, and here we go.
9:03 PM: If you want to vote for a short man for president, you’re disenfranchised.
9:05 PM: Auto industry, auto industry, auto industry … ‘economic patriotism’ hits a lot of points for Obama.
9:08 PM: And also small business, small business, small business. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
9:10 PM: Like two boxers just dancing.
9:11 PM: And now we get down to the debate over taxes.
9:12 PM: Curious whether Obama’s going to press Romney on his tax numbers just not adding up. He hasn’t pressed the point.
9:13 PM: “By the way, I like coal.”
9:15 PM: Obama seems tight.
9:16 PM: Getting curious whether Obama is by design setting a trap for Romney. His numbers are just wrong here. Numerous economists say Romney’s numbers don’t work. And he’s doubling down.
9:22 PM: Simpson-Bowles!
9:23 PM: Romney=Bush. But why doesn’t Obama mention Bush’s name? Weird.
9:25 PM: Romney is uber-prepared. Double-uber prepared. Can barely find seconds to fit all his words and examples into. Obama seems tentative.
In case you couldn’t have guessed, we’re live-blogging this baby.
So, what do you expect? Sedate? Lots of firepower? Willard-mania? What does your gut tell you we’re going to see tonight?
7:49 PM: While we’re waiting, check out my friend Josh Green’s primer on the most crushing zinger in presidential debate history.
7:52 PM: And if that’s got you pumped, read this story about how the automatic cuts coming with the ‘fiscal cliff’ will toss more than a million people out of work.
8:03 PM: You’ll be able to watch the debate live on the web right here.
8:39 PM: Interesting sample size. TPM Reader JP notes that 100% of the people who’ve signed an individual mandate law are going to be on the stage tonight.
Get all pumped up for tonight’s debate in just 100 seconds…
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The job of presenting the Romney high command with the latest polling data each day must be as fun lately as being a food taster in ancient Rome: Read More