The Week contest - Debate do-overs

Now that the debates are over, what one sentence would have served either candidate well, no matter what question was asked?

U.S. President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are seen during the last presidential debate in Boca Raton, Florida on Oct. 22.
(Image credit: Rick Wilking-Pool/Getty Images)

Welcome to The Week's "What Next?" contest, an invitation to test your powers of imagination with challenges inspired by current events.

Click here for the results of the previous contest: Underemployed grads

Last week's question: Now that the debates are over, we asked you what one sentence would have served either candidate well, no matter what question was asked.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

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.

Sign up

RESULTS:

THE WINNER: That's an excellent question. Let me tell you why I'm not going to answer it.

Gayle Morrow, Middlebury Center, PA

SECOND PLACE: I feel strongly both ways.

Bob Bouws, Grand Rapids, MI

THIRD PLACE: Every human entertains a fantasy. It's always been mine to live in Cleveland, Ohio.

John Peter Walsh, Mercer Island, WA .

HONORABLE MENTIONS

I'll have a more nuanced reply on this week's Saturday Night Live.

Kevin Peppard, Oak Park, IL

We need nonpartisan solutions, but I'm against that.

Romella J. ElKharzazi, Washington, DC

That is a question best asked of my opponent.

Mike Revzin, Atlanta, GA

Just last week I talked with a single mom in Lima, Ohio, who had tears in her eyes as she told me…

Anne Marie Dominguez, Plymouth, MA

I don't think I answered your question; I will this time.

Bob Leek, Portland, OR

Let me first say that in establishing all our priorities, we must ensure the future prosperity of our great middle class.

Kenneth Updegrove, Cedaredge, CO

That's a great question, but two minutes isn't sufficient to answer it, so let me speak to a different point.

Thom Thacker, Irvington, NY

Don't laugh — he's not joking.

Brad Christianson, Naples, FL

If I'm lying, may God strike me dead.

Jeffrey May, Lakeville, CT

Go ahead, my time is up.

Meredith Swallow, Winooski, VT

If elected I will move the White House to Ohio.

Richard Heater, Keller, TX