“I was really kind of hoping Romney would say some stuff that I’d understand, as far as what his plans are,” Ms. Jernigan said. “And I don’t feel that this has clarified anything for me.”
That quote is from a
New York Times article published this evening about a suburban debate-watching party in Ohio. Theoretically, the people quoted in the article are some of the voters who will decide the election.
That quote - by Ms. Jernigan - sums up the real takeaway from tonight's debate. Voters know about President Obama. They've had 4 years to evaluate him and observe his policies and make an opinion about them.
Tonight was the moment to get to know Romney's plan. And judging from the quote above, and from my own viewing of the debate, that didn't happen.
Sure, Romney had some good lines and came across as more appealing than many of us expected, but that was not enough. He needed to present a clear plan, but he failed to do so.
Voters were looking for information about his plan... and they didn't get it tonight. That will ultimately make it much harder for Romney to win, regardless of whatever the pundits are saying right now.