Compare to 1984 debates

[Harry]

(Yes, I'm somewhat spoofing Republicans who compare this whole election to 1980)

Reagan was terrible in the first debate, the polls tightened some, but then Reagan blew Mondale out of the water in the second debate and the landslide was on.

[Politico]

Dream on. This was more like 1980 all over again. Obama should thank his lucky stars that there are two more debates. Of course, Romney did not prepare for just one debate...

[GMantis]

Dream on. This was more like 1980 all over again. Obama should thank his lucky stars that there are two more debates. Of course, Romney did not prepare for just one debate...

In 1980, the challenger actually led in average polling, so that's a significant difference.

[Harry]

Dream on. This was more like 1980 all over again. Obama should thank his lucky stars that there are two more debates. Of course, Romney did not prepare for just one debate...

Did you seriously take the bait even when I announced that I was spoofing you?

[NHI]

Mondale bested Reagan in the first go around, but Reagan also had better economic circumstances and a higher approval rating than Obama. Last night reminds me more of '92.

[Secretary Polnut]

Mondale bested Reagan in the first go around, but Reagan also had better economic circumstances and a higher approval rating than Obama. Last night reminds me more of '92.

I could go into why the 1992 parallel is a bad one, but I've been awake since 5am and it's after 10pm... sufficed to say, what kills a candidate is inflating a weakness... Romney made a good case last night and Obama was off... But while I see the narrative our resident hacks want to create... I don't see the established preconception being served by this. Bush was already disliked, and was seen as out of touch... the debate sealed that idea with the public ... I think there are more apt comparisons but I won't suggest them in order to avoid accusations from the usual suspects, who don't think it's possible to be objective.

[dirks]

From what I can remember, Mondale was way WAY down in the polls before the first debate, did phenomenally well...but just looking through the old Gallup polls...didn't seem to receive any sort of bump

[NHI]

From what I can remember, Mondale was way WAY down in the polls before the first debate, did phenomenally well...but just looking through the old Gallup polls...didn't seem to receive any sort of bump

This

[J. J.]

From what I can remember, Mondale was way WAY down in the polls before the first debate, did phenomenally well...but just looking through the old Gallup polls...didn't seem to receive any sort of bump

Reagan looked befuddled.  Obama didn't have that problem.  It was not as bad as Reagan's first debate.  Some of his body language was similar, though not as bad, as Kennedy Nixon, with Obama being Nixon.