With only weeks left until the Presidential election, it’s crunch time for both President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney. The second debate was held last night at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. The audience consisted of undecided voters.
A few crowd members had the opportunity to ask both candidates a question. The first question, asked by a young man, was concerning how he would support himself after college.
Romney responded by saying that he wants to make college more affordable for students, he also said that he wants to keep the Pell grant program growing.
Obama responded by saying that he would create good paying jobs and build manufacturing jobs. Mr. President was already off to a better start than last time; he spoke well and used effective hand gestures.
In response to the next question, Romney, once again, told America about his five-point plan for unemployment.
Obama claimed that Romney doesn’t have a five-point plan and that he has a one-point plan that makes sure the people at the top play by a different set of rules.
Romney, however, repeatedly says that he will not reduce the taxes for the upper class.
Reduction of gas prices was also a huge topic in the debate. The president focused more on clean energy, while the governor stated that he will take more advantage of oil, gas, and coal.
One of the crowd members asked an interesting question about females getting paid less than males for the same job. Romney explained how he has more women on his team than any other state in the country. He also said that 3.5 million more women are in poverty since Obama has been in office, and he said that companies should be flexible with the hours they give women.
The president responded to the question by bringing up his grandmother, again, and by explaining how a stronger economy will bring more jobs for women.
On the topic of immigrants, Mr. Obama stated that he has more border patrol than ever before, and that we should go after the illegal immigrants who are criminals and “gang bangers,” opposed to going after illegal immigrants who aren’t criminals and are being productive citizens.
Mr. Romney explained how it isn’t fair to illegal immigrants waiting in line to become legal, that their spot in our country is taken by those who are here illegally. He also wants to sanction companies that hire illegal immigrants and not allow those immigrants to have licenses. However, he said that he will give kids of those immigrants a pathway to become legal.
Furthermore, the two candidates debated over whether the President called the attack in Benghazi a “terrorist attack” and when exactly he said it. Obama claimed he said it the next day, but Romney claimed that the President did not say it for another 14 days after. Records show that the next day Obama did call it an “act of terror.” Some of his cabinet members and him had some miscommunication and they were all referring to it differently. Ultimately, Hillary Clinton took the “blame.”
Overall, the Incumbent did a far better job than in the last debate; he spoke with confidence and articulated well his answers to the questions.
The Governor, also, showed poise.
With only one more debate left, we are left with one question: What will America do… give Obama another chance? or are we ready for new leadership? We’ll find out on Tuesday, November 6th.