I think this could be important

[Doctor Jack]

I found an article from Reuters talking about their tracking polls from today and there are some important numbers which seem to show that Romneys gains in the polls the last few days haven't changed the dynamics of the race. Specifically, while the numbers show that romney has received a small jump in support, they also show that the number of people that like and trust romney is virtually unchanged from pre-debate levels. Same with obamas numbers. So the superficial numbers have shifted but the way that romney and obama are viewed by americans has not. If this is in fact the case, the bump in the head to heads is only from very soft support, probably due to buzz in the news and not from any fundamental change in the election. If true , in seems nearly impossible for Romney to maintain his gains. It is just an artificial inflation in his level of support that is destined to collapse.

http://m.yahoo.com/w/legobpengine/news/romney-gains-ground-obama-strong-debate-004941209--business.html?orig_host_hdr=news.yahoo.com&.intl=US&.lang=en-US

Plus the pollster thinks the bump wont last

[Pirate Smile]

1. Romney consolidated Republicans & Repub leaners but he didn't convert any

Dems or Dem leaders. They haven't moved.

[TroyD]

2. The 50% Approval Number is also Important to keep an eye on

Despite the poll bumps for Romney, (which I don't think we should dismiss until Obama starts going back up), Obama remained at 50% Approval in Gallup AND Rasmussen today.

Presidents get re-elected when they have Approval numbers like that. Hopefully that's where they will remain.

[DonViejo]

3. Thank you for posting this!

I hope it gets a lot of views. Folk seem to need some cheering up.

[ProSense]

4. More:

Ipsos/Reuters Daily Election Tracking: Obama 47% - Romney 45%
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021485353

More from Ipsos/Reuters poll: Obama still more liked than Romney despite poor debate
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021485522

[Doctor_J]

5. If Obama doesn't do a better job the next two debates things could change

Rmoney will remain as popular personally as poison ivy, but the president needs to act like he actually likes what he's done and doesn't like the teabaggers.

[RichGirl]

6. I'm sure Obama will be more energetic....

But if Romney does the same, being pushy and interrupting, etc....I think it will get on peoples nerves.

Maybe by next debates people will have gotten past the performance aspect and considered what he actually said (vouchers, big bird, lie about pre-existing conditions, etc) so they won't be so impressed with him.

[Doctor_J]

7. they will if the president points them out

instead of agreeing with Rmoney on vouchers and tax cuts.

[kayakjohnny]

8. The formats will be different and it would be hard to imagine a worse one than the first one.

I think Obama will do just fine from here on out. Debate wise and in general.

[Doctor Jack]

10. I agree

I think he was trying to come off as calm and collected but over did it. I think we are more likely to see 2008 Obama. From what I have read, Obama has become far more motivated to really pound Romney into the ground after what happened friday. Before the last debate, he just kind of wanted to get it out of the way and didn't believe it was going to be much of an event. I think he sees now that he needs to come out swinging, something that he is absolutely capable of doing.

And hopefully we have a tougher moderator this time. I don't think anyone was expecting the last one to sit in silence while romney rambled for 10 minutes and that probably threw obama off too.

[Dawson Leery]

13. If he outflanks Rmoney, Obama will win with a respectable margin.

[cheezmaka]

9. Thanks Doctor Jack!

this is just what the "doctor" ordered (no pun intended)...

[obxhead]

11. The debates are for 5% or less of the voters.

I think it's far less than that. If more than 1% of the voters (not registered voters, but the people that will actually go vote Nov 6th) have not decided at this point on the Presidential race I would be very surprised.

This race has been going on for far too long for there to be a significant number of undecideds.

[grantcart]

12. bumps don't last. that is why they are called bumps.. In another 48 hours the first debate will be

history and three things will be remembered;

1) Romney was well prepared, agressive, probably won the debate and lied his head off.

2) Obama was off his game

3) Romney took a great deal of delight in firing PBS and Big Bird in particular.

Then something else will happen.

It will either confirm what happened and then Romney's numbers will continue up and it will no longer be a bump but a trend, or it will go back down and the bump is finished.

The campaign bumps along with a string of events and they either confirm or challenge preconceived ideas. It is almost impossible at this stage for Romney to completely change people's basic understanding of who he is. It is not impossible but it will take 5-6 big events the size of the debate or larger.

For all of Romney's debate win it ironically actually confirms people's worst opinion of him and that's why when the warm fuzzies wear off Romney will be looking at Obamas 320 EV.