Big punches, terse exchanges, improved Obama but no knockouts in second debate Phoenix Business Journal October 17, 2012 Wednesday
Filed under:- Immigration Law
Arizona's immigration law, what to do about undocumented migrants already in the U.S. and how to grapple with China, laggard job growth and economic uncertainty all came up during Tuesday night's heated town hall debate between President Barack Obama and challenger Mitt Romney.
The second debate saw a more aggressive Obama than in the first debate, though he will face continued questions about the killing of the U.S. ambassador to Libya.
Both candidates had their moments and scored points in the debate, though Obama's performance was much better than their first tussle.
A CNN poll of debate watchers shows 46 percent thought Obama won the debate while 39 percent said Romney. A CBS News poll on the debate showed 37 percent thought Obama won and 30 percent picked Romney.
Those numbers could indicate some voters did not like the argumentative tone and tactics of both candidates. That indicates neither contender landed a big knockout punch during the debate.
The CNN debate poll also showed some good indicators for Romney. Survey respondents who watched the debate said Romney would do a better job handling the economy, taxes and health care. The same CNN poll also showed voters by a slim margin trusted Obama more on foreign policy.
Obama hit at Romney's wealth, business record and stance against the auto industry bailout. The president attacked Romney's tax plan saying it will benefit the wealthy and made not-so-veiled references to the challenger's business background.
"You can make a lot of money and pay lower tax rates than somebody who makes a lot less. You can ship jobs overseas and get tax breaks for it. You can invest in a company, bankrupt it, lay off the workers, strip away their pensions, and you still make money," said Obama in a pretty clear reference to Romney's tenure at Bain Capital.
Romney continually hit at Obama's economic record.
"The middle class is getting crushed by the policies of a president who does not understand what it takes to get the economy working again," said Romney.
"You've seen, as middle-income people in this country, incomes go down $4,300 a family even as gasoline prices have gone up $2,000. Health insurance premiums - up $2,500. Food prices up, utility prices up," Romney said
Obama criticized Romney for backing Arizona's Senate Bill 1070, which is designed to have police check the immigration status of people they stop, saying the law could lead to police summarily asking young women if they are illegal immigrants.
The Obama Administration sued the state over the law and saw some of its provisions upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. The Arizona law allows police to ask about immigration status if they have arrested or detained a person on another charge.
Romney said he backed the E-Verify portion of Arizona's immigration law requiring employers to be part of the federal verification system.
Obama shot back that Romney's immigration advisor is the main architect of SB 1070. The law has shown to be popular in polls but is not popular with Hispanics.
The Republican challenger also faulted the incumbent president for not getting immigration reforms done during his first term or introducing a formal package after making 2008 campaign promises.
Obama and Romney argued over oil and gas drilling on federal land, the handling of the ambassador's killing in Libya and the Republican's tax plan.
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Victor Cuvo, Attorney at Law
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