OBAMA VS ROMNEY 2012 - a Singaporean's opinion

 

First Presidential Debate

 An aggressive Romney focused on the poor economic performance in the US over the last four years.  A strangely inhibited Obama failed to convincingly discredit Romney's plans.

 

Vice-Presidential Debate

Biden's arrogance was a turn-off in contrast to Ryan's creditably cool, calm and respectful demeanor.

 

Second Presidential Debate

Many analysts gave this round to Obama.  But, Romney's clear listing of Obama's poor economic record, strong stand on China's unfair trade practices, successful attack on Obama's anti-oil, coal, and gas policies and his explanation of how a tax cut and a balanced budget can co-exist if the economy expands; are all good substantial arguments.  On the other hand, Obama sounds rather nasty and quarrelsome; and nobody remembers what he really said about his plans for the next 4 years  The incumbent's reiterating of Romney's "47%" off-the-record gaffe, his successful brow-beating of Romney into backing down on the Benghazi issue, and the moderator's poorly disguised favoritism towards the president suggest that the Obama camp now appears to be a little desperate.  If the President had won this second debate, it is more down to style and experience than anything else.

How this presidential campaign is unfolding comes as a big surprise to me.  I would never have imagined that wooden Romney is now having the upper hand over slick Obama and he seems destined to score an upset victory come November!