President Obama vs. Mitt Romney: Who won the final presidential debate?
In the tamest of the three presidential debates, the GOP candidate and the Democratic incumbent tangle on foreign policy and national security
In the third and final presidential debate Monday night in Boca Raton, Florida, President Obama and Mitt Romney were supposed to duke it out over foreign policy. However, Romney put in a surprisingly docile performance compared to his previous efforts, in which he hammered Obama over his stewardship of the economy. On Monday, Romney was more inclined to agree with Obama on issues ranging from Afghanistan to Iran, though he was livelier when the debate veered into domestic issues. Obama was far more aggressive, hoping to stem Romney's recent surge in the polls. Who won?
Obama: The president attacked Romney with vigor, hoping to disqualify Romney as a potential commander-in-chief. Obama dinged Romney for flip-flopping, being naive, and engaging in reckless saber-rattling. A CBS snap poll found that 53 percent of viewers thought Obama won, compared with 23 percent for Romney.
The American Prospect's Jamelle Bouie:
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza:
The Atlantic's Joshua Green:
Romney: With Romney refusing to fight back, and responding to each attack with unflappable smiles, Obama's attacks rubbed some the wrong way. And overall, the GOP candidate put in the more intriguing performance, seemingly ceding the issue of foreign policy to the president. Many praised him for "looking presidential" and appearing moderate, which could help voters see Romney as a credible commander-in-chief. And perhaps that's all Romney needed to do.
Business Insider's Joseph Wiesenthal:
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The American Conservative's Scott Galupo:
NBC's Chuck Todd:
The National Review's Rich Lowry:
Read more political coverage at The Week's 2012 Election Center.
-
Political cartoons for October 26Cartoons Sunday’s editorial cartoons include Young Republicans group chat, Louvre robbery, and more
-
Why Britain is struggling to stop the ransomware cyberattacksThe Explainer New business models have greatly lowered barriers to entry for criminal hackers
-
Greene’s rebellion: a Maga hardliner turns against TrumpIn the Spotlight The Georgia congresswoman’s independent streak has ‘not gone unnoticed’ by the president
-
Millions turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ ralliesSpeed Read An estimated 7 million people participated, 2 million more than at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June
-
Ghislaine Maxwell: angling for a Trump pardonTalking Point Convicted sex trafficker's testimony could shed new light on president's links to Jeffrey Epstein
-
The last words and final moments of 40 presidentsThe Explainer Some are eloquent quotes worthy of the holders of the highest office in the nation, and others... aren't
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are US billionaires backing?The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
-
US election: where things stand with one week to goThe Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'