Distance and Distant During the First Presidential Debate

The first Presidential debate for the 2012 election between President Obama and Governor Romney drew the distinction between a candidate who effectively distanced himself from past policy positions and one who may have commanded the facts but in doing so appeared distant and detached.

There’s no question that Romney effectively commanded the room. How? By appearing confident and aggressive but properly respective of his opponent and the office of the Presidency.

President Obama – despite his command of the facts and readiness to offer a professorial tutorial defense of his actions during his first term – never appeared sure-footed. Indeed, he never appeared comfortable sharing the stage with a candidate who directly and forcefully challenged and a moderator who interrupted him – the President of the United States – as though he were a mere applicant for the job.

Elections are about the future.  If an incumbent is forced to defend the past, he loses.  If he can successfully use past accomplishments to paint a picture of a brighter future - he wins.

That’s the first of three Presidential debates.  Let’s see how the discussion shifts in the weeks ahead.

 

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