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I Still Hate Town Halls
The undecided voters seemed anything but. And Candy Crowley became a player-coach. Matt Latimer on the debate everybody lost.
Mandel Ngan / Getty Images
One of the reasons I think town-hall debates are a waste of time is that they tend to keep the candidates from engaging with each other. Neither wants to offend the audience of “regular Americans” before them—people so disinterested in the election that they claim they still can’t figure out how to vote.
Obama Seizes the Upper Hand
Using newfound energy to slice up Romney’s record, the president forced his rival on the defensive. Howard Kurtz on the impact of the second debate.
John Moore / Getty Images
Barack Obama came to play in the second presidential debate Tuesday night, unleashing a series of attacks against Mitt Romney that accused him of favoring the rich and “extreme” social policies.Romney got in the president’s face more than once, repeatedly challenging him and at one point refusing to let him break in: “You’ll get your chance in a moment, I’m still speaking.
7 Best Moments from the Second Presidential Debate
President Obama and Mitt Romney duked it out on the economy, energy, equal pay, and more in Tuesday’s town-hall showdown at Hofstra University—and pundits are handing the victory to the incumbent. Watch the debate's most memorable moments.
Brian Snyder / Reuters-Landov
Romney’s One-Point Plan?Let the games begin! Throughout his campaign, Mitt Romney has been promoting a five-point economic plan that includes developing energy independence and slashing government spending. But to President Obama, Romney’s plan only has one point: ‘to make sure that folks at the top play by a different set up rules.
Debate Gets Spirited Early
Obama and Romney spar over energy.
Saul Loeb / AFP
It didn’t take long for the second presidential debate to turn into a verbal brawl. After an audience member asked if it was the job of the energy department to lower gas prices, Obama cited improvements in his first term on the U.
Presidential Debate Kicks Off
Romney and Obama spar on education and jobs.
Timothy A. Clary / AFP
The second presidential debate opened with visibly nervous college student Jeremy Epstein asking Mitt Romney and Barack Obama how they could assuage his fears about not having a job after he graduates. Romney responded by saying he knows “what it takes to get this economy going.
Debate Pre-Spin Under Way
Democrats and Republicans are already working the media refs at the second presidential debate. Howard Kurtz is at the scene.
Win McNamee / Getty Images
Ladies and gentlemen, the spinning has begun here at Hofstra University.John Kerry was so wound up before a gaggle of reporters that if he had been this animated in 2004, he might have won.Kerry carries special status here at the site of the second presidential debate for two reasons.
11 Questions Debate Audience Members Should Ask Romney, Obama
Readers of The Daily Beast offer the 11 questions audience members at tonight's town hall-style debate should ask Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.
Win McNamee / Getty Images
Earlier this afternoon, we asked readers to send us questions they would ask if they found themselves sitting at tonight's presidential town hall-style debate. From questions about how to save the planet to healthcare hypocrisy, these are among the best.
Can Obama Be a Superstar?
The pundits say the president needs a huge come-from-behind victory. Howard Kurtz on the overwhelming odds against that happening.
Carolyn Kaster / AP Photo
Now Barack Obama has to be LeBron James.At least, that's what Joe Scarborough said on his MSNBC morning show. The president must act like the NBA superstar in Tuesday night's debate, pouring in points as if it is Game 7 against the Lakers.
The Town-Hall Tightrope
Romney may be better behind a podium, but can he connect with an audience of uncommitted voters? Brett O’Donnell, America’s premier debate coach, on what Obama needs to do to avoid the ‘incumbent trap.’
Lucas Jackson, Reuters / Landov
In 2004 George W. Bush lost the first presidential debate to John Kerry. He sighed, had bad posture at the podium, and seemed generally disengaged. Sound familiar? President Obama followed in the same footsteps in what we might call the “incumbent trap” of presidential debates where the sitting president doesn’t take the debates as seriously as he should and turns in an uninspired performance.
Obama Has to Dumb It Down
Here’s where Obama went wrong in Denver—he spoke at an academic comprehension level, targeted his message at Romney instead of the audience, and used less tonal variety. Mark McKinnon on how to turn it around tonight.
Carolyn Kaster / AP Photo
Is President Obama too smart for debates?We know his energy was low in Denver. That he looked like he wanted to be anywhere else. That he looked churlish and peeved. And that he missed countless opportunities to raise issues or counter Mitt Romney’s assertions.
I Hate Town Halls!
There’s no such thing as an undecided voter! And neither candidate this year can compete with Bill Clinton’s empathy! Matt Latimer on the five things he’ll be screaming at the TV during Obama-Romney 2.
Emmanuel Dunand, AFP / Getty Images
I don’t believe in the undecided voter. Let me be clear on this: I am not saying that I doubt the sincerity of someone who declares today, three weeks before an election that we’ve all been hearing about for years, that they have no idea for whom they are going to vote.
The 8 Things Obama Needs to Do
With the president still reeling from his last run-in with Mitt Romney, the stakes on Tuesday night are enormous. Michael Tomasky lays out Obama’s surest path to victory.
Brendan Smialowski, AFP / Getty Images
So here we are. Let’s get right to it. Here are Barack Obama’s eight tasks tonight:Be a fighter for beliefs. I wrote this already, but it needs to be on this list. Obama must communicate that he wants to spend four more years fighting for the things he believes in and the people he represents.
What Martha Raddatz Should Ask
The Daily Beast polled readers on Facebook for questions that Joe Biden and Paul Ryan should be asked at tonight’s face-off in Kentucky. See the list!
AP Photo
ABC News reporter Martha Raddatz will be moderating tonight’s VP debate between Paul Ryan and Vice President Joe Biden. The debate starts at 9 p.m. ET, but The Daily Beast’s live stream will be starting up at 8 p.m. After President Obama’s lackluster performance at the first face-off, all eyes will be on Biden to turn the tide against Mitt Romney and Ryan.
Vox Box
Daily Beast's Contributors Weigh In
‘Attacking Me Is Not An Agenda’
Throughout his campaign, Mitt Romney has attacked President Obama for, well, attacking him—and he doubled down on this approach Monday night: 'Attacking me is not an agenda,' Romney scolded.
Must-See Moments
Foreign Policy Showdown
Best Moments From the Final Presidential Debate
Obama and Romney duked it out on foreign policy Monday night. Watch the most memorable moments.
Interactive
Ground Game
Obama Opens Up Big Lead
As of mid-October, the Obama campaign has 755 offices nationwide for its get-out-the-vote effort—nearly three times as many as the Romney campaign. PLUS: John Avlon and Michael Keller break down what the office edge could mean on election day.
Wish List
Stuff Mitt Likes
Watch This
History Lesson
7 Debate Wins and Fails
Dukakis and the rape question. Reagan and his age joke. See the highest and lowest moments of debates past.
LOL
Debate Memes
The Best Horses & Bayonets Photos
Big Bird, Binders Full of Women, and, now, Horses and Bayonets. The funniest meme photos from the latest debate catchphrase.
Watch This!
Art Imitates Life
10 Greatest Fictional Debates
Ahead of Tuesday’s presidential debate, a look at the more entertaining showdowns from film and TV.
Plus
Full Debate Coverage
An 'SNL' Exodus?
Three of the late-night sketch-comedy show's biggest stars might soon be departing. See clips of their best moments and debate the future of the show without them.
