A week after the first and only vice presidential debate bumped the President back on to a level playing field, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney face off again in the campaign’s second presidential debate.
Tonight’s town-hall style contest will take place at Hofstra University, beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET. Audience members have been pre-screened by Gallup and are all “undecided.” Candy Crowley, the first woman moderator of a general election Presidential debate in 20 years, will ask the questions.
Given the obvious need for a more aggressive Obama to make up for his lackluster performance at the previous debate, the mercurial nature of town-hall debates, and a leaked memo by Mark Halperin of The Page that details a secret agreement between the two candidates, it’s going to be a show to remember.
UPDATE: 9:00 p.m. | ANALYSIS
Cute touch, candidates. Romney sports a blue tie, and Obama a red.
New record: Obama just tackled education, infrastructure, energy and war within two minutes.
Romney’s plan is smaller than Obama’s.
Candy Crowley ain’t no Jim Lehrer, Gov. Romney.
zzzzzz…So much for that exciting, upbeat performance we all expected from Obama.
Romney really loves talking about birds.
Face-to-face combat!
I take that back, Obama is not backing down tonight.
Candy, where you at?!
Hmm, gas hasn’t been at $1.86 per gallon since I started driving, and that was in 2008.
Candy, it’s Po-LAH-no!
Romney wants to help the middle class by cutting taxes on the wealthy.
Capital gains and dividends are not in the middle-class vocabulary.
Please say 47 percent, please say 47 percent…
Romney’s friends aren’t going to like that he “isn’t looking to cut taxes for the wealthy.”
Take a seat, Gov. Romney. Relax.
Take a shot, everybody! Big Bird just got a shoutout.
Did Candy just tame the beast that is Gov. Romney?
Romney still hasn’t realized that nobody cares about the Winter Olympics.
Obama just gave his best answer of the night about women’s rights. About time…
For all his good looks, Romney struggles when talking to a young woman about women.
Sorry, but if you’re still undecided, then you haven’t been paying atttention.
Three scariest words of the debate so far: George W. Bush.
Obama attacks Romney by defending Bush. I see what you did there, Mr. President.
Actually, Obama tried to keep troops in Iraq.
UPDATE: 9:56 Economy | ANALYSIS
Romney just gave his best answer of the night. That was a crushing blow to Obama.
That clock looks way too much like a bomb. Just saying.
Obama just messed up an audience member’s name. There goes another voter.
Fact: Obama has deported more immigrants in four years than Bush did in eight.
Romney just told off the moderator for the 87th time in two deabtes.
UPDATE: 10:07 | ANALYSIS
For those interested, here is an article regarding Obama’s military strategy in Iraq.
Obama has ended and started quite a few wars. Nothing to brag about, Mr. President.
Romney probably scores really well with people that don’t know a thing about the Middle East.
This debate just got real.
I think Obama forgot to drop the microphone.
UPDATE: 10:16 | ANALYSIS
Wow! Has anyone ever asked Obama about his stance on gun control?
Romney is a few steps away from blaming video games for gun violence.
ABC News poll shows Obama leading among respondents by a wide margin.
UPDATE: 10:24 | ANALYSIS
Going into the 12th round, ABC News poll shows Obama leading among respondents by a wide margin.
Candidates, not every question involves education and the economy.
Romney is against “trickle-down government” but for trickle-down economics? Talk about double-speak.
Romney will do everything ever for everyone on the first day of his imaginary presidency.
According to Romney, “Obamacare” has hurt the economy even before it goes into effect in 2014.
Why does Obama refuse to say Bain Capital and 47 percent?
Can they stop hating on China?
UPDATE: 10:34 | ANALYSIS
Why does Barry get to ask the last question?
Now we have to listen to Romney talk about himself for two minutes. H-E-L-P
Pres. Obama used to call himself Barry. Coincidence? Conspiracy? You decide.
UPDATE: 10:39 | ANALYSIS
The debate ends on a weak note. Oh well…
Thank you for following live commentary from Washington Square News. Join us again for the third and final debate on Monday, Oct. 22.
