When Romney spoke about diplomacy and sanctions, where he’s previously talked of attacking the enemy’s of Israel, Obama said he was ‘all over the map’.
Where the second debate, given narrowly to Obama by most, was dubbed the interruption debate, the third man-on-man encounter was more civil in tone.
Commentators have said Obama finally looked presidential and confident a fortnight from the election.
A CBS poll of 521 uncommitted voters, which make up 11 per cent of those intending to vote, were asked who won the debate, with 53 per cent giving it to Obama, 23 per cent to Romney and 24 per cent calling it a tie.
A CNN poll of registered voters found the debate 48 per cent in Obama’s favour and 40 per cent for Romney.
Obama is the narrow favourite with Ladbrokes at 4/11 and Romney at 2/1 to win the election.
Before the debate, Romney had threatened he would attack Iran over its nuclear program, but now says he supported sanctions. He also now supported the 2014 deadline for withdrawal from Afghanistan when he’d said prior that he would be prepared to keep US troops there for longer.
The sit-down debate moderated by CBS Washington reporter, Bob Schieffer, 75, largely focused on defence, with the President arguing America needed to maintain the world’s strongest military.
But he added a stronger focus must now be made on rebuilding America.
In one exchange, Romney attacked President Obama for paring back the Navy and Air Force.
The President jibed: “You mention the Navy, for example, and the fact that we have fewer ships than we did in 1916.
“Well governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets. We have these things called aircraft carriers and planes land on them. We have ships that go underwater, nuclear submarines.
“It’s not a game of battleship where we’re counting ships, it’s ‘What are our priorities?’”
On the Middle East, both candidates said they would stand with Israel if they were attacked.
Image via Getty
