Second debate win for Obama

The presidential debate that took place Tuesday evening proved to be a turnaround for the president’s campaign. Charismatic, self-assured and aggressive, President Barack Obama successfully bounced back from his meek presentation during the first debate to reassure the democratic base he deserves a second term. While the victory does not negate Obama’s poor showing the first time around, it revitalizes the party and could motivate independent voters to vote democratic in November.

Both candidates were on their game, but a CNN Poll of registered voters reported that 46 percent feel the president won the debate. Columnists and political analysts agree that Obama not only delivered better, he delivered better-quality material as well. At the end of the day, Romney simply failed on the facts. He faltered on women’s rights, gun control and immigration, and shied away from addressing the concerns of the more than 20 million American people who are still out of work.

Had Romney harped on the sluggish economy as evidence that Obama should not lead the nation in 2013, he may have been more convincing to those voters who he needs to reach to secure a win. Instead, Obama helped to reinforce the conception of Romney as out of touch, stating that Romney’s one-point plan will only assist “those at the top,” who Romney feels should play by a different set of rules.

Some may claim that Obama’s win is such because he performed so poorly by comparison in the first debate. However, that isn’t the case. Obama’s ability to concisely articulate on energy and tax policy aided the contrast from the first debate and also pointed to a president more in touch with the current majority of the U.S. population.

Romney criticized Obama’s handling of the attacks in Libya, to which Obama fired back that he had indeed referred to them as an “act of terror,” adding, “While we were still dealing with our diplomats being threatened, Gov. Romney put out a press release, trying to make political points, and that’s not how a commander-in-chief operates,” in reference to Romney’s hasty criticism after the attacks.

Obama took a one-two punch approach to many questions asked throughout the evening. He reinforced his record and efforts from the past four years while also more explicitly describing his goals for the next four and in the same breath, often delivered a blow to Romney in a collected and eloquent manner. Obama’s reference of Romney’s “47 percent” comment at the end of the debate opened an opportunity for the president to articulate a vision for the next four years, proclaiming that those 47 percent are hardworking people that he wants to fight for.

Despite the ever-churning waters of the political sea during election season, Obama’s energetic and visionary persona throughout the second debate will likely make a more significant impact than Romney’s combative win in the first round. The victory will assist his campaign in getting back on track to head toward another win in the general election.