The only chance that Romney has is...

[WI_DEM]

for the MSM to spin a mediocre debate performance (and it will be the first debate which will be the critical one) into a stellar performance by a scrapling underdog. Don't underestimate the MSM to try and take what is now looking like a growing Obama victory and try and turn it around, so that they can get back to talking about a nail-biting election so they can keep their ratings higher or sell a few extra papers.

Can the American people be fooled? Yes, in 1980 instant polls after the Carter-Reagan debate showed pretty much a draw, but after a few days of the media talking about how Reagan reasurred people he wasn't some kind of dangerous nut and guffawing about Carter having talked over Nuclear weapons with his young daughter Amy. CNN is still highlighting this:

Carter performed adequately, but made at least one major tactical error by ending a serious discussion on nuclear weapons with the statement, "I had a discussion with my daughter, Amy, the other day, before I came here, to ask her what the most important issue was ..." Most thought the attempt to humanize the issue, and put it in the context of future generations, simply didn't work, and thought it bizarre. Some said such a line from an incumbent President would have worked much better in print than in a nationally televised debate.

http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/debates/history/1980/index.shtml

[JI7]

1. is this the same debate where the media thought there was something great

about "there you go again" ?

[WI_DEM]

3. Yes. And Carter was right, too. Reagan did attempt to cut Medicare

which is what Carter was talking about when Reagan went 'there you go again.'

[JI7]

6. interesting how they take issue of Carter bringing up his daughter

in the way you mention in the OP . But Reagan's answer to Carter was just fine with them.

one difference here is that Romney is just so no appealing in any way that it might be hard for the media to try to spin it in his favor as it was with others.

but i can see them propping him by saying "he may not come off as likable but he will get jobs" or any other talking point to help him.

[gateley]

4. That's a good reminder -- a zinger like that will stick in peoples' minds. And if it makes

you laugh, you'll probably look favorably on the one who launched the zing.

[JI7]

2. don't forget the Gore sighing thing either

people right after the debate said Gore won . the right wing made an issue of the sighing which most people didn't really notice or care about. and then the media of course followed the wingnuts and that's what it became about.

[Jim__]

5. And, of course, Romney is a bald-faced liar.

He can win any debate if the media won't call him on his lies.

[still_one]

7. voter supression and id is how they plan to win