Politics & Government

Who Won the Second Presidential Debate 2012? Reactions from Around Iowa

Judging from comments from Iowans, President Obama had a much better showing against Mitt Romney on Oct. 16 than the first presidential debate.

Facing a drubbing even from Democrats in Iowa and across the country for his first debate performance against Mitt Romney, President Obama took the fight back to the former Massachusetts governor Tuesday in a confrontational, finger-wagging, CNN televised town hall session.

Consensus on who won the debate -- if there was a winner -- typically takes days to solidify, but there seemed little question both candidates came intending to swing hard to strike their blows with only three weeks to go before the Nov. 6 election.

The stakes could not have been higher as polls tighten nationally and in Iowa, whose six-delegates could be key to either candidate winning the election.

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Debate topics ranged from gas prices to tax policies to immigration, energy, gun control, overseas outsourcing, and who wanted to save the auto industry and who wanted to kill it.

"The president was a completely different person in this debate and was the clear winner," said David Leonard, a Democrat from Waukee. "He was fully engaged, well-prepared, and unwilling to give Romney an inch whenever the governor said something that wasn't true."

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Of course, others disagreed.

"The debate was a push, therefore Governor Romney wins," said Chris McLinden, a Republican from Waukee. "President Obama seemed shrill and loud to somewhat overcompensate for the big loss in the first debate. The pundit class will be divided."

President Obama was far more energetic than in the first debate, which even Iowa’s influential Democrats agreed was a lackluster performance, and Romney interrupted the president and the moderator just as often as the first time around.

University of Northern Iowa political science professor Christopher Larimer said he thought both Obama and Romney both gave strong performances, in sharp contrast to their first meeting.

“I thought it was very competitive. It was sort of what I expected to see Oct. 3. I don’t know where President Obama was that night,” he said. “But tonight I think the president was energetic. He provided a sharp contrast to everything Romney said.”

The candidates went toe-to-toe -- almost literally at times -- arguing face-to-face at times, coming off their stools to debate questions and interrupting each other in repeated testy exchanges.

"Obama won, hands down, no question about it," said Mazie Johnson, a student and Democrat from West Des Moines. "Mitt was downright offensive with his aggressive interruptions and bigoted language. He conveniently adopts the president's plan when his own sounds too awful. Obama was honest and was able to make his points without being so rude. "

Eric Branstad, a West Des Moines Republican and son of Gov. Terry Branstad, called the first half of tonight's debate a tie, and gave the second half to Romney for concrete ideas on jobs and tax policy.

"Romney was able to point the differences out ... are we wanting to go down same path of the past four years or do we want to grow?" said Branstad, who organized a watch party in West Des Moines with Patch.

"This debate demonstrated Mitt Romney's policies outweigh the president's rhetoric," said Brad Zaun, a Republican state senator from Urbandale.

Tuesday's debate was the second of three presidential debates hosted by the Commission on Presidential Debates. The debate was a town meeting format moderated by CNN's chief political correspondent and anchor of CNN's State of the Union, Candy Crowley, on the campus of Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY. 

Democrat John Norwood, a small business owner from West Des Moines, said he thought Obama made his case on creating jobs and improving the economy.

"We create jobs by stimulating consumer spending,” said Norwood. “U.S. consumer accounts for 60+ percent of our GNP. Corporations have record cash on their balance sheets. The best answer to creating new jobs isn't more tax cuts. It's restoring consumer confidence and getting more cash in the hands of consumers.

Norwood thought both men performed strongly, but Obama won.

“It was not only what he said, but how he carried himself,” Norwood said. “He exhibited energy in his answers. He was respectful, allowed the moderator to run the debate. It seemed she was giving Romney a little more time.”

Abhishek Vemuri, president of the ISU College Democrats, said he felt Obama won the debate

“I was very heartened by it,” Vemuri said adding that Obama was tougher this go around.

“He was a lot more willing to push Romney on his lack of specifics and his bending of the truth,” he said adding that Vemuri and others at his watching party enjoyed it when Obama said “that's just not true.”

Tonight's debate showed the clear difference between the two candidates, said Chad Airhart, the Dallas County recorder and a Waukee Republican. Voters have a choice between four more years of a stagnant economy vs pro growth, lower taxes and job creation.

"President Obama doesn't have much of a record to run on," Airhart said. "And he really doesn't have a plan for the future. What I heard tonight was 'Governor Romney is wrong, he's a liar'."

Cory Adams, chairman of the Story County Republicans, was able to tune into most of the debate Tuesday, but didn't feel comfortable declaring a winner, adding that he preferred the first debate style that turned into more of a conversation.

“I'm not a huge fan of the timed response,” Adams said.


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