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Philly sounds off on second presidential debate
Philadelphia politicians and citizens evaluate Tuesday night's presidential debate.
Philly sounds off on second presidential debate
Shortly before Tuesday night's presidential debate began, City Councilwoman Marian Tasco posted a Tweet echoing the sentiment of many Democrats across the county following the initial presidential debate on Oct. 3: "Mr. President, Be yourself."
The message was subsequently retweeted by Council President Darrell Clarke and, after the town-hall-style face-off between President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. concluded, the council president Tweeted that he was satisfied with Obama's performance.
"President Barack Obama showed real spine tonight. His vision for our country is the one that will benefit all Americans," Clarke posted.
The word "lethargic" was frequently used by members of the national media to describe Obama's performance in the first debate, and, at least in Gallup polls, the event marked a shift in the race. In a poll released Sept. 26, Gallup gave Obama a six-point advantage (50 percent to 44 percent) over Romney. By Oct. 9, following the first debate, Romney had taken a 49 percent to 47 percent lead. In a poll released Tuesday morning, Gallup calculated a four-point lead (50 percent to 46 percent) for the governor.
CP stopped some Philly voters at Market East Station this morning to gauge their reactions to the debate.
Gerry Whelan, 68, of Chestnut Hill, a longtime Democrat and a strong Obama supporter, felt there was no clear winner in Tuesday's matchup. Stylistically, he was pleased with the president's performance, but said he gleaned few policy specifics from the debate.
"I thought [Obama] was obviously much more aggressive and alive than he was in the first debate," he said. "I didn't get a lot out of it, it was just back and forth bickering, almost fighting. It wasn't really informative."
Whelan, a physician, called health care policy the most important topic for him this election season.
"The preservation of Obamacare is something I really want to see happen." Whelan said. "I'd be really distressed if the Republicans dismantle this, because they clearly don't have any viable substitute."
Tuesday night, Romney reiterated his case against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, colloquially called Obamacare, which was signed into law in 2010 and mostly upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in June.
"There's no question but that Obamacare has been an extraordinary deterrent to enterprises of all kinds of hiring people," Romney said near the end of the debate. "My priority is making sure that we get more people hired."
Obama, however, countered by calling the law "the same health care plan that [Romney] passed in Massachusetts, and is working well."
Northeast Philadelphia resident Shirley Callahan, 66, said that while she traditionally votes Republican, she's unwilling to commit to Romney and remains an undecided voter as of Wednesday morning. Tuesday's debate did little to sway her toward either side.
"Medicare is what's important to me, and neither [Obama nor Romney] gave any specifics," she said, noting that she felt similarly after Thursday's debate between Vice President Joe Biden and Congressman Paul Ryan.
To gain her vote, she said, the candidates must document more specifics about their policies rather than the vague rhetoric she feels has been offered thus far.
Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter, however, took to Twitter after the debate to post a message in support of Obama, seemingly giving the president the victory.
"Great job by President Obama in laying out his vision for America. I am proud of him and his commitment to leading our county. Great job!!" Nutter wrote.
The candidates will travel to Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla., for the fourth and final debate, which will focus on foreign policy and is slated to begin at 9 p.m. Monday.
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