I couldn't blame you for saying "Here we go again!" and, to be honest, I'm kind of saying that myself. I know that a lot of you are dreading yet again listening to the candidates promote themselves at the expense of the voters. (But since none of those people are likely to be reading this, why do I care what they think?)
The truth is, this is more than that; it could well be Barack Obama's last chance. He needs to improve upon his previous performance. But then, his previous performance was so bad I don't see how he could do that badly again. If he were to blow it again, it could be the end of him.
I don't look for Obama to let Romney get away with blatantly lying like he did the last time. That may sound partisan, and I admit to being pro-Obama, but that's also the conclusion of damn near everybody that's fact-checked Romney's outrageous statements, his shameless back-pedaling to more moderate positions, on virtually every issue. (OK, that sounded partisan even to me. But I make no apologies, because as far as I can tell that's what he did.)
Romney can't expect to win by the same tactics (notice I didn't say "tricks," even though that's what I was thinking) that he used two weeks ago. Obama is no fool; don't expect him to treat Romney with the same degree of politeness and respect.
But this could backfire; Romney could be prepared to meet a more aggressive Obama by making the President look like a bully. If the Republicans had been prepared to do that during the vice presidential debate, Ryan might not have gotten so seriously beaten up.
(A word about that Biden-Ryan debate: I am not surprised that Biden was judged to be the victor, but I am surprised by just how one-sided public opinion turned out to be. I am surprised--though perhaps I shouldn't be--by how quickly, and how universally, Republicans have shouted "Foul!" and thus demonstrated that they, too, thought that Biden got the better of their boy. I honestly thought the debate was closer that that.)
Actually, imagining the amount of planning-counterplanning-countercounterplanning that must be taking place right now is making my head hurt. The stakes here are high, and along with this being a do-or-die time for Obama remember that it's Romney's best chance yet to finally pull ahead.
A few more points to ponder:
1. Romney is a better debater than Obama. Anyone who doubts this need only refer back to the first presidential debate.
2. This debate is to have a "town hall" format, which should favor Obama.
3. A lot could hinge on whether the moderator sticks strictly to the agreed-upon rules of the debate (like Jim Lehrer did, to his universal derision) or will use her position as moderator to move the debate along (as Martha Raddatz did, to praise from the left and sour grapes from the right). Early indications would seem to suggest that this time the moderator will be more pro-active, but we'll see.
Another important point is that the audience is to consist of "undecided" voters; who this ultimately will favor is anyone's guess at this point. I've heard opinions on both sides; I'm not going to jump in.
And in the end, the punbdit's opinions don't really matter. Once the audience has gone home, the reporters have abandoned their keyboards and the pundits have given their opinions (those that aren't waiting to here what everyone else says before they make their call) then the American people will decide who won, and in the end that's the only opinion that matters.
The Blues Viking
The opinions here expressed are mine and if you don’t like them you can get your own damn blog.
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