Campaigns spin debate, even before it began
(CNN) - The campaigns of President Barack Obama and GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney were quick to spin their version of Tuesday's debate, with both campaigns arguing their candidate came out on top.
The surrogates, in fact, started circulating the designated "spin room" before the candidates took to the podium, setting expectations.
- Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker
- Check out the CNN Electoral Map and Calculator and game out your own strategy for November.
After the debate, senators, governors, and spokesmen tracked down reporters to make their case.
"The president had a dominant performance tonight," Obama's senior adviser David Plouffe told CNN's Chief White House Correspondent Jessica Yellin. "I think he laid out very clearly where he wants to take the country economically, his jobs plan, his plan to grow the economy based on the middle class. I think he exposed Governor Romney, his tax plan, his jobs plan - as the president said, it's a sketchy deal. And I think Governor Romney wilted under that scrutiny."
The exchange on Libya made Romney look "like someone playing politics," while Obama came across as "a resolute commander in chief," Plouffe said.
On the other side of the spin room, Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana said that Romney "absolutely" had a win - his second of the season - in Tuesday's debate.
"President Obama spent exactly no time at all speaking about any specific plans for a second term, but one of the most telling questions was when the voter said I voted for you four years ago, why should I vote for you now?" Jindal told CNN National Political Correspondent Jim Acosta.
"Look at all the broken promises. You look at what the president promised," he continued. "He promised the president would cut the deficit in half by the end of his first term - hasn't done that, over a trillion dollars a year in debt. Promised he'd get the economy turned around in a term, in three years, or it'd be a one year proposition - 23 million unemployed, underemployed Americans."
Also on the CNN Political Ticker
- Colbert says he can't tell differences between Romney and Obama
- All tied up ahead of second Obama-Romney showdown
- Obama ad makes case for economic policies
- Romney message this week: 'A clear choice on debt and deficits'
- Largely hidden away, Obama reports debate prep 'going great'
From CNN Politics
- Senate votes to end Covid-19 emergency, 3 years after initial declaration
- 10 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2024
- 'Wrong things can be changed': Justice Sotomayor speaks on disillusionment
- Untitled
- Trump appeals court ruling lifting executive privilege shield for former aides
- Credit Suisse's efforts to resolve DOJ probe complicated by bank's fall
If OBAMA wins the American people will immediately be a 3rd World country if we are not already. Change is needed right or wrong he has done nothing.
Its a shame Mitt had to debate two people the moderator and the President. Unless we the people remove our heads from the Corporate media asses nothing is going to change. I bet Crowley was wearing Obama T-Shirt pathetic. Next debate should have two moderators one liberal and one conservative otherwise the liberal media bias was apparent today. When will the liberals stop dodging their main signature issues abortion and homosexuality? cowards still hiding under women skirts!!
I live in Canada and its comments like that just just makes the rest of us shake our head
He and his part have done a much better job for the USA vs the republicans, to say that you will be a third world country is just plain stupidity
Obama edged out a win in this debate. Romney did a good job but he remains vague about the details. Most people believe that his plan will have to eliminate a lot of tax exemptions that the middle class has taken for granted. It would be better if he just came out with it and told what it would entail. Obama should have reminded people more about how close we were to a Great Depression and we aren't out of the woods yet. I noticed the CNN live meter went down when he mentioned the financial crisis, which is not very encouraging if that means people just want to forget it pretend it never happened. Already voted by mail so this is just entertainment.
ARE YOU CRAZY???? I AM A SUPPORTER OF TRUTH AND POLITICS, I am soooo pissed, I can hardly type........really, who won??????? How about America..."Need President????" Was there any question???? NOOOOO Obama FOrward!!!!
Obama is the winner of the debate according to virtually every major poll so far.
Some americans are just plain haters and unreasonable, people like whelan should ask themselves which party brought America to their present sorry past, it is the republicans. Obama is just finding it hard to clear the mess they created and the republican controlled house is not making his job easy, i forsee a better performance from obama if he is given another 4 years, for Roomey i dont know know where he really stands on many issues except his plan to reduce tax 4 all including the super rich.
I would like for whom ever the President maybe to stop saying what you know the people want to hear,and be about it don't just talk about it, President Obama came in office trying to fix what the last three Presidents screwed up and people think he can fix it in 4 years, I say give him 4 more years to undo what the Presidents before him messed up, know their pockets are full and their families are to . Wake Up America.
Candy was a rock star. Way to go girl!! The only way Obama can lose is by Republicans tampering with the votes. I'm so proud my POTUS. Mitt Romney is pathetic. If this is the best the GOP has to offer they're done.
Candy is a rock star.
Elections are about the future and not the past and the status quo doesn't win elections. You have to say, "I've done a good job and here are the changes that I'm going to fight for." Obama spent so much time defending what he'd done that he did not get a chance to lay out comprehensive vision for what he's going to do in the next four years.
Read more from Karl Rove
Bush was once our Future !
Romney = Bush , deferent time.
Romney, so you say Obama failed but you can grow the economy. If we go to war or pay billions to fight abroad, will that make you a failure because it slows the country's economic growth?
Deacon Romney says a whole lot to say with no substance to back it up. That leaves us only his past record as a Governor and business partner of a successful out sourcing company. The gaul for him to look at that college student and make the assumption they both will be prosperous. Because the United States is an ever evolving country with more and more baby boomers who have worked all their lives and never complained, a vote for that flip flopping Deacon is a slap in the face of the 47% he criticized.