The big question going into last night’s debate was what Mitt Romney had to do to change the course of the campaign. My answer was simple: Romney had to win the debate.
He did. Clearly and resoundingly. Romney aced the biggest test he has faced so far and, as a result, the race likely will enter a new phase. The challenger is alive and well.
President Obama had his moments, especially his closing argument. But overall, he looked small and frequently uncertain of his own points. He distorted Romney’s plans in an effort to avoid debating them, a sign he can’t handle the truth. At other times, he waded into the weeds in ways that only wonks could appreciate.
When it came to defending his record, Obama resorted to filibusters that moderator Jim Lehrer was too willing to tolerate. As though his handlers were whispering in his ear, the president trotted out his favorite campaign clichés: millionaires and billionaires, oil companies corporate jets, fair share, fair shot. It was all stale stuff.
He lashed Donald Trump and mentioned his dead grandmother to make a point on health care. He talked of “investments” instead of spending and, of course, mentioned Osama bin Laden in a debate on domestic issues.
As for specifics, I have no more idea what Obama would do in a second term than I did before the debate.
Romney, by contrast, was fresh and determined to press the economic argument that remains his strength and Obama’s weakness. In a nutshell, he put the difference between them as his favoring jobs and growth, while Obama favors food stamps and redistribution.
He was at his best explaining his plans on tax reform, job creation and cutting the deficit and comparing them to the president’s poor record that has left 23 million Americans unemployed or underemployed.
Romney, too, had a strong closing argument, and effectively stole one of Obama’s core 2008 pledges: to unite the country. Romney promised that he would work with Democrats and Republicans in Congress to get the country working again. It was a slick move that implicitly pointed up one of Obama’s admitted failures.
Most important, Romney filled the screen with a presidential presence. I confess to being surprised that he brought his A game to the biggest night of his political life. He was a man with a plan, and had an impressive command of his facts.
I was also surprised that Obama seemed flat and somewhat caught off guard. His first mistake was to mention it was his wedding anniversary and call his wife “Sweetie,” a cringe-inducing moment that felt totally contrived.
He clearly has grown used to having control and, toward the end, brushed aside Lehrer’s offer of a two-minute answer to speak for five minutes. The imperiousness overwhelmed his points.
The incident also revealed that you don’t need to know what two minutes means once you’re president of the United States!
Even Obama’s usually cool style was off. He talked most of the time to Lehrer, and only occasionally to Romney. By contrast, Romney often turned to face Obama, a direct and engaging style that showed a toughness we have too rarely seen.
To be sure, Romney has burst out of his defensive crouch before, only to retreat after a short time.
If he does that again, he will have wasted a precious victory.
But if he stays on his toes and continues to explain how his presidency would benefit middle-class Americans, he will be giving himself a real chance to win the job.
And, judging from the way he performed last night, Obama might even be looking forward to life after the White House.