It's difficult for any Decided Voter to be objective. Their candidate is their candidate and they will likely see his performance as stronger than his opponent's no matter what the actual outcome. At least that's conventional thinking.
That theory, however, was proven wrong after the first debate when Romney was determined to have won and Democrats were the first to admit, if apoplectically, that their guy dropped the ball. (see Dear Dems: Can We Not Throw Obama Under the Bus Next Time?). Extrapolating from that conclusion, one can assume that objectivity is, in fact, possible, despite candidate preference. And so it can be fairly determined that, regardless of party or candidate preference, the third presidential debate was won by President Obama.
Certainly some Republicans will attempt to spin it differently (and already are, frantically so), Undecideds will do whatever it is Undecideds do, usually not make a decision, and the rest of the crowd -- Democrats and Independents -- will see it for what it was: a fierce debate won by a strong, reasoned, and experienced Commander-in-Chief discussing foreign policy with a challenger whose most predictable campaign move is "air brushing" (aka: lying about) his platforms in order to appease the voters he's trying to win over. The media agrees:
Huffington Post: Obama 44.31%, Romney 36.79%, Neither 18.9%
Forbes: Obama 52%, Romney 48%
Even Fox News Insider gave it to the President: Obama 62.25%, Romney 37.75% (at last check... and that's shocking, indeed!)
Will this win for the President change the trajectory of the election? YES. Not just because it appears to have swayed some of the ubiquitous Undecideds, but because, at this point, we're now done pandering to them. Their moment in the spotlight is over. They will no longer be courted, wined and dined, brought to CNN for instant polling, or interviewed by magazines in awe of their lack of decision-making ability. Their confusion on policy, platforms, and historical precedent set by either man running will now be viewed for exactly what it is: indecisiveness. Their time is up; their run is over. There's no longer any excuse. If they can't make a decision now they should not vote because, clearly, the essential and serious factors that go into choosing the best person for the job of running the country elude them. For the sake of their fellow citizens and the future of this country, they should pass this go-around and better spend November 6th making snacks and cleaning up after the Election Night parties.
It's now time for the rest of us: the Decided Voters. Our day has come, we move to the forefront. After being ignored for these past many months, we will step up and determine the outcome of this election. No polls, no debates, no TV ads, or stump speeches can have any further impact. We've already decided. We decided a long time ago. Because the lines could not be clearer, the issues more defined, and the strategies more specific to each candidate, giving us ample information with which to make our unequivocal decision. In fact, most of us made those decisions right after the Republican Primary, we've simply been waiting to get through the long and winding road of this campaign to finally have our moment in the spotlight.
At the ballot box. When we will do what Decided Voters do: elect the next president of the United States.
And if you ask most of the people polled tonight, that will be the man who already holds the post. Decided by us: the Decided ones.
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