Latest Presidential Polls: Mitt Romney Wins Third Straight Presidetial Debate Against Obama

By Jesse Merkel

On Monday night, Mitt Romney wrapped up a very successful debate season. Media narratives aside, it's obvious now that the Republican ticket had an incredibly good series of debates against the Democrat incumbents. 
Romney undoubtedly won the first debate, staring down and picking apart an unenthusiastic Obama. Next came the vice presidential debate, which we saw a calm Paul Ryan against a smiling and cackling Joe Biden. Ryan didn't land any knockout punches, but he didn't have to. Biden's laughter and clownish appearance ended up hurting him more than Ryan ever could have. After the debate, Biden's likeability plummeted.

Latest Presidential Polls Mitt Romney
 Wins Third Straight Presidential
 Debate Against Obama

The second presidential debate saw a much stronger Obama against a still-formidable Romney. Many pundits say that Obama won that debate, although in hindsight it seems like he received credit for showing up alert than for scoring huge hits. Some polls later in the week showed that Obama did not win that debate. Romney's momentum continued, and that means that Obama did not do what he set out to do.

Monday brought the final debate in Boca Raton, Florida, during which Romney adhered to an old tactic used by boxers for years. When you're ahead on points, there is no shame in dancing around the ring for the last round. All Romney had to do was look presidential and not make any big gaffes. That's what he did, and that's why he won. Obama by comparison was combative, and snickering. He preferred to attack Romney rather than rise above as a president should. As Romney so eloquently stated, "Attacking me is not an agenda."

If someone was transported from the past and saw these two for the first time, they could have easily confused Romney for the incumbent and Obama for the struggling challenger. Romney looked presidential, and in doing so may have done exactly what he needed to keep his momentum going. 

If you're ahead overall, you don't take the bait. Rather than picking up Libya and clubbing Obama over the head with it, Romney stayed on message. While this may at first appear disappointing to conservatives and cowardly to liberals, there's method to his madness. Throughout the entire 90-minute debate, Romney evaded Obama's attempts to paint him as a reckless warmonger. Romney made sure to mention Obama policies he happened to agree with, so that he would not come off as being disagreeable for the sake of being disagreeable. He came across as strong without looking like a bomb thrower. 

The reason that Romney has gotten this far is in part by knowing when to throw and punch, and when to look presidential taking one. Obama smirked and shifted in his seat. Romney channeled Reagan.

Weeks from now, people may look back at the two candidates closing statements on Monday as the final nail in the coffin for President Obama. Obama's hands swished, while he could barely manage to crack a smile. His tone was borderline-condescending. One could even call it desperate. Looking at him speak, one could tell that he knew he was still losing ground.

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