and here is how the pundits spun it on Charlie Rose on PBS....GREAT news for Obama.

Last edited Tue Oct 23, 2012, 12:54 AM - Edit history (1)

Tina Brown, Mark Halperin, John Hileman, Chuck Todd, Al Hunt, Martha Radatz, John Dickerson, Gwen Ifill

Hunt - Romney went in to hold his own - he would win a draw - similar to Obama's Denver strategy - misfired - Romney on his heels from the start, ended up agreeing with Obama on just about everything. Debate won't change dynamics, but this debate won't add any Romney momentum - night to Obama.

Halperin - Obama won on points, More quips, more information. Disagreed with Hunt - he did execute his strategy - Romney hit the trifecta - hit well on all three debates re presidential. Won't affect the race.

Hileman - Most amazing thing was number of times Romney used Tumult (thought it was a jewish word)....more with Hunt's thought that Obama won big - Romney was incoherent on most answers. Striking tonal difference. Obama did great holding Romney's feet to the fire. Tried to pin Romney down on his many different positions - didn't let Romney etch a sketch tonight - was even steadier than debate 2. Strength of him as president came through - very comfy with foreign policy - did better tonight than against McCain.

Raddatz - won't call a clear winner, but thought Romney tried to appeal to women. Peace - peace - peace - she didn't recognize tonight's Romney.

Todd - Not surprised Obama was aggressive, not surprised with Romney's prevent defense. Obama acted like the guy a little bit behind. Was surprised at how meek Romney was. Was actually too passive - mirror image of first debate. Most interesting exchange - auto bail out back and forth. Romney decided to go for the auto bailout question - a tell that he is behind in Ohio. Answer was confusing and all over the place. He is really worried about northern part of Ohio.

Brown - agreed re Ohio - "the second half of that paragraph". Obama was tough, pragmatic, very presidential. didn't think Romney was as weak and passive as others thought - his goal was to just look presidential. Thought he did pull it off - Romney looked like an accomplished man who knew the world.

Dickerson - Romney went at Obama with a butter knife - and sometimes left it on the table. If this campaign is a choice - Romney was just an echo of the president on everything. He didn't even jump on Libya - so Romney thinks it is all about the economy. Did he indeed look sufficiently presidential? In CBS poll of undecideds, Obama won big.

So - does Romney thinks he is on his way to winning?

Brown - he was safer doing the rope a dope. Obama landed a punch talking about his Israel trip.

Todd - Romney wasn't consistent about this - if we are not improving in the last four years, then why did he agree with all of Obama's approaches? So, it was all about aiming at the undecided women. Romney - read the world book of facts - dropped in too many random facts. Like a book report.

Raddatz - He was all over the map - when he went to Mali, was really confusing, didn't seize on Libya. Status of forces agreement in Iraq - Romney talked about Obama wanting the status of forces agreement - voters won't go "wait wait" - the debate was so dense lots of people got lost, were happy when they got to the economy.

Hunt - both realized this and kept trying to pivot to the economy - Romney held his own until Ohio came up.

Brown - Obama was smart to keep saying we need to do nation building at home.

Ifill - not surprised Bengazi didn't come up - felt like it played itself out last debate and Romney isn't talking about it on the stump. Surprised re Mali - they didn't mention Mexico and drug wars, Euro Zone, India and outsourcing, North Korea - and so much time on Isreal. Shocking.

Todd - was shocking Mexico and Europe didn't come up! Impact on our economy and drug war impact on Texas and Arizona.

Did Romney's "you can attack me but it isn't a policy" work?

Raddatz - didn't work well - and no Romney stand out lines or zingers - played it safe. Obama had some good ones - bayonettes andn horses line of the night.

Ifill - Romney's point - world is in greater tumult (that word again). But - he was very mild on the assaults. Romney staff tweets had much more strong messages.

Brown - Romney sounded very naive in the tumult lines - what the hell can the president really do about this stuff - ridiculous.

Hunt - reason horses and bayonettes line was so good was because it was so rooted in truth. The debate didn't change the basic dynamics. Romney did a rope a dope this time.

Todd - saw this coming, knew it would be the Romney strategy - best line of Romney - the Putin line. Overall, Romney people firmly believe that they will soon be leading and they will win. They cleared the commander in chief line but only barely.

Part 1 going to post - will do a follow up if any really good lines.

Link to part 2. http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021611055