The Issue: The performance of the presidential candidates during their first debate on Wednesday.
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Mitt Romney knew exactly what he had to do in the debate, and he did it (“Mitt’s Big Night,” Editorial, Oct. 4).
Winning the first debate is one thing; the election is another. He needs to go on the attack and hammer the president for everything he’s said and done in his term.
He needs to remind the American people what the unemployment rate was before President Obama took office, what the price of gasoline was and what the national debt was. If he doesn’t, he will hand the election to Obama.
Bret Wallach
Hicksville
No teleprompter, no record to defend and no protection from the liberal media equals a devastating win for Romney.
I will be camping out in my living room the morning of the vice-presidential debate to get the best view of Paul Ryan mopping the floor with Vice President Joe Biden.
Floremar Dulinayan
Staten Island
The debate demonstrated again why Obama is known as the entitlement president.
Although he could not defend his ruinous economic policies, Obama still believes that he is entitled to be re-elected.
Millions of unemployed and struggling Americans will have an opportunity to say otherwise this November.
Gerald Jacobs
Staten Island
Michael Goodwin made his best effort to hypnotize people into thinking one debate was a game-changer (“This One’s the Game-Changer,” Oct. 4).
However, there’s only a small percentage of undecided voters, some large gaps in the swing states and many people have already voted.
One debate may not move people, and the foundation of voters’ core beliefs means many will not switch.
David DiBello
Brooklyn
Now many Americans — most of whom know Obama through left-wing, agenda-driven journalism — can see just how unpresidential and clueless he really is.
Sure, he’s charming on “The View,” because it’s obvious he’s much more comfortable being a celebrity than a politician.
Ironically, the journalists who have propped Obama up on an unsustainable pedestal will unwittingly contribute to his downfall because, thanks to them, he has no recent experience answering tough questions.Luana Dunn
Medford
I guess Obama was content being eye candy at the first debate.
Andy Romanic
Freeport
Wednesday night was the left’s “Emperor’s New Clothes” moment.
They have all wanted so desperately to believe in hope and change that it has blinded them to the facts.
Obama wasn’t off his game; he is in way over his head and clearly does not have a grasp on the grave economic challenges of our time or even how to begin to address them.
We have seen firsthand four years of ineffective policies and leadership as evidence. This is what happens when candidates are not properly vetted.
Scott Paterson
Syosset
Without his liberal media and his teleprompter, Obama is essentially defenseless. This was crystal clear in the debate.
Although Obama was a professor at the University of Chicago Law School, he had to face a real “professor” of business, economics and political philosophy and a warm, caring man who will be our next president.Peter Welch
Carmel
Romney was a lovable terrier nipping at our ankles for attention, and Obama was a hound dog crying all the time.
Beth Snyder
Traverse City, Mich.
Obama looked sulky, petulant and stupid. Instead of thinking out salient points, he spouted talking points.
He was an ideologue who was so out of it that he didn’t even back up his borrowed ideas.
I am startled at how he has hurt us economically and in the Middle East, but he looked so inept that I almost felt sorry for him.
David Lawrence
Manhattan