Groucho Marx once observed “I was married by a judge.  I should have asked for a jury.”

I am having a similar reaction after browsing the coverage of last night’s final Presidential debate.

The Judges’ Verdicts

“I think it’s unequivocal Mitt Romney won.  Romney went large.  Obama went very, very small – shockingly small.” – Charles Krauthammer, Synidated columnist

Headline:  “Few seemed swayed by final presidential debate”  – Associated Press (The headline on 5460 articles, according to Google)

Headline:  “Presidential debate: Times opinionators divided on Monday’s winner” – Los Angeles Times

“Mitt Romney came across as reasonable, thoughtful, serious presidential, rational, not someone who is going to start another war in the Middle East.  …overall, I think they both did an effective job tonight.  I don’t think it changes anything.  You saw Mitt Romney talking about the economy tonight, messaging to Ohio.  I thought he was very effective talking about China.  Whether you agree or disagree with his positions on these issues, I think if you’re a worker in Ohio tonight, I think his message would have had some resonance.”  – MSNBC Analyst Steve Schmidt

“In a presidential debate largely lacking the combativeness of last week’s town hall, President Obama and Mitt Romney both seemed to achieve their goals in Monday’s foreign-policy face-off.”  – Christian Science Monitor

 

The Jury Verdict

However, instant polls of the voters’ reaction to the debate tell a dramatically different story.

 A CNN poll of registered voters:  Obama won: 48%.  Romney won: 40%.

A PPP poll of swing state debate watchers:  Obama won:  53%.  Romney won:  42%.

A CBS poll of uncommitted voters:  Obama won:  53%.  Romney won: 23%.

To be fair, these polls were done immediately after the debate, before voters were given their instructions by the judges.

– Loveland