Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

top
Michelle Obama (L) and Ann Romney (R) embrace prior to their husbands' debate in Denver, Colorado/AFP

World

Romney, Obama clash on tax, economy in first debate

The 65-year-old badly needs to reset the election narrative, after a video emerged of him branding 47 percent of Americans as people who pay no taxes and see themselves as “victims” who depend on government handouts.

The president was marking his 20th wedding anniversary on Wednesday and began the debate with a shout-out to the First Lady, apologizing for the unromantic setting.

“Congratulations to you, Mr. President, on your anniversary. I’m sure this is the most romantic place you could imagine, here with me,” joked his adversary in a rare moment of levity as the duel began.

Republicans sought to capitalize before the debate on a verbal slip on Tuesday by Vice President Joe Biden, who said the middle class had been “buried” for the last four years.

Democrats said Biden was talking about how president Bush’s policies continued to hurt the middle class deep into Obama’s term.
Romney’s campaign released a Web video showing Biden’s comments, followed by the simple line: “We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.”

Romney re to the theme, saying in the debate: “Under the president’s policies, middle-income Americans have been buried, have been crushed.”

Obama countered with accusations that Romney has no specific plans to create jobs or move the country forward, other than the failed Republican policies that he said got the country in trouble in the first place.

Several national polls released before the debate showed a tight race, with Obama ahead by a few points.

A new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll gave Obama a lead among likely voters of 49-46 percent, consistent with a RealClearPolitics poll average showing the greying US leader up by 3.5 percentage points.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

A National Public Radio poll showed Obama leading 51-44 among likely voters nationwide and 50-44 in battleground states, while a Washington Post-ABC News poll gave Obama a larger 52-41 lead in swing states.

About The Author

Pages: 1 2 3

Comments
Advertisement

More on Capital News