Now It's A Fight
I'll admit
it...I am obsessed. These debates are addictive and last night was truly a shot
to the arm. I also admit I am a news junkie, but you don't have to be one to
know that when President Obama and Gov. Romney met at Hofstra, the gloves were
off.
It happened
in minutes. So fast I barely had time to get the pillows right on the living
room couch. I heard gas prices, "I asked you a question," and before I
knew it they were up. Standing. Head-to-head. Toe-to-toe. Knowing what
toothpaste the other uses. THAT kind of close. For a second, I thought,
"Are they actually going to brawl right now?" No, not verbally, but at that
moment a football-style tackle was not out of the question. Okay, so that's
excessive, but there is no doubt the second question set a sharp tone for the
evening.
Let's put
aside who "won." Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I find it hard to
believe-no matter how strongly you feel for a candidate- there wasn't something
they could have done differently, better or not at all. Instead, let's focus on
what this means going forward.
First, the
President is back. After his lackluster showing in Kentucky, he came ready to
play. He had to, he did and like we said in our Big Story today, it moved us
from a race to a downright fight.
But we also
learned Romney is up to the challenge. The governor we knew pre-debate season
has surprised us twice now. He looks the President square in the eye, he is
assertive, he throws his punches and he takes them in return. He is not
backing down and from his "licking my wounds from my loss to John McCain"
reference, we know he wants it.
And there is
still time. We have another debate, almost three more weeks of campaigning and
a huge percentage of undecided voters still waiting for their "ah ha"
moment. You see, no matter who "won," this race is far from over. In fact
for many it has just begun. That is the beauty of the town-hall style. It lets
the voters, you know, the people who REALLY matter in this election, ask the
questions on the issues hitting them the hardest. Forget a moderator, forget
the time limits, let the people give them a piece of their mind and let the
candidates answer to their face. We deserve that much.
Now don't get me
wrong. Town-hall style or not, I will be glued to my TV Monday but last night,
was that chance for Americans and it did not disappoint.