The reaction of Delaware's political class to the first showdown between President Obama and Mitt Romney broke down pretty much as you’d expect – right along party lines.
Delaware GOP Party Chairman John Sigler saw Mitt Romney as the big winner in the 90 minute session on domestic policy. Sigler said the former Massachusetts governor took advantage of the opportunity to answer running attacks on his plans and policy proposals by the President and his supporters.
“Tonight’s debate proved beyond any reasonable doubt that Governor Romney is fully capable of being President of the United States. His arguments were cogent, logical and totally understandable whereas President Obama appeared to be struggling with facts,” said Sigler.
Delaware Democratic Party Communications Director Sarah Rivin disagreed. She said President Obama did what he needed to do in Denver.
“I think President Obama delivered a consistent message and we continued to see Romney doubling down on bad ideas and not backing up any of the plans he claims to support,” said Rivin.
Rivin felt President Obama was especially strong on the issue of health care, detailing the benefits of "Obamacare" - the health care law that stands as the signature domestic policy accomplishment of his first term.
Delaware State University political science professor Sam Hoff agreed that the night's highlight may have been the sparring over health care, but he did not see the President scoring a clear win on the topic.
“They let that go on so long and yet both sides were going back and forth, back and forth. It was just fascinating to be able to take all that in as they went back and forth like they did on that one. And I scored that one a tie,” said Hoff.
Hoff says Romney was the night's overall winner, scoring the most rhetorical points. He counted 9 separate issues addressed – and felt Romney won almost all of them. The only time Hoff felt the President excelled was when the two tangled over the federal deficit.
Hoff added that neither candidate made a game changing error or gaffe and anticipates Romney will earn a bump following his performance.
“I do believe this will close the gap in the national polls, taking it from about 5 percent [in favor of Obama] to one or two percent. I still think the President will be ahead and I think its going to be extremely close,” Hoff said.
The next presidential debate is October 16th at Hofstra University on Long Island. Next week, Vice President Joe Biden and Paul Ryan face off in the lone Vice Presidential debate in Kentucky.