Tornado Alley (PROG)

[blackhawks]

I remember vividly the party balloons broken out by Romney supporters after an indifferent 1st debate performance by Obama, a consensus debate win for Romney.

Then I remembered Reagan's first debate against Mondale; the consensus was Reagan was ready for the rest home, a clear win for Mondale.

The I remembered Kerry's clear win over Bush in their first debate.

I concluded that sitting presidents not challenged by primary races are a little rusty when it comes to debates, never really being subjected to them as presidents. The first presidential debates are a slap in the face of the 1st term president to help them get their shit together for the remaining two debates.

The 2nd debate with Romney was over, as were his election chances, when this happened:

On September 12, 2012 in the Rose Garden, President Obama announced the deaths of four Americans killed during the attack on the U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya, including that of Chris Stevens, American ambassador to Libya. During his remarks, Obama called their deaths “an act of terror.”

Later in the second debate, Romney accused Obama of waiting 14 days to officially declare the Benghazi siege a “terror-based” attack during the second presidential debate, forcing Obama to re-read the transcript of his original announcement that day.

https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/2016-presidential-debates/five-best-moments-obama-romney-s-2012-second-debate-n662121