for example they should compare applause at the end of the speech from each of them, the loudest applause during the speech from each of them etc. I'm sure the results would be the same. I just think this video wasn't as clear as it should have been.

k and r

The Romney part was painful regardless of the editing.

...I'm not a Romney fan, I don't really care for the man, I don't respect his Gordon Gecko years at Bain, maybe he did something good with the Olympics but to be really honest, I don't care...

...but you're right, it IS painful to watch him in virtually ANY interaction with other human beings. Right now, the country is suffering. Right now, the country needs a leader, and despite whatever form of back-room number crunching and wheeling & dealing Mitt "The Venture Capitalist" Romney thinks he can bring to the table, he's not a leader on a Presidential scale. He lacks charisma. He lacks empathy. And it may be no more complex than the fact that he's never lived in the world of most of his fellow Americans. It doesn't necessarily make him a "bad" person...strapping the dog on the roof sucked, but I see that more as "clueless" than "cruel"...and he may very well be a good dad, but his kids are all arrogant, oblivious, silver spoon little shits. He raised his kids in his own image.

It's like anything else in life. Pretending that you care isn't the same thing as caring. And in Mitt Romney's heart of hearts, maybe he DOES think he cares. Maybe this is the best he's got. It's not enough. And it most certainly is painful to watch.

Placing the two candidates side-by-side in front of the youth audience (let alone any audience) and watching the reaction is telling. Granted, Romney will get more reaction when he attacks the poor, immigrants, gays, union members, etc. but still the enthusiasm gap is palpable.

Obama's audience went to an after-classes party.

What a study in contrasts this election season will be!

Julie