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Democratic Insiders Say Obama Won Debate, GOP Responders Split

Patch surveyed influential California Republicans and Democrats for their opinion on the second presidential debate on Tuesday.

A Patch survey of influential California partisans showed Democrats uniformly awarding victory in Tuesday's debate to President Obama, while only 10 out of 18 Republicans surveyed said Mitt Romney was the clear winner.

On the Democratic side, 12 of 14 said Obama was the winner by a wide margin while two said he won by a slim margin.  Five out of 18 Republicans said Romney won by a wide margin, five said he won by a slim margin, five said it was a draw, and three said Obama won by a slim margin.

The Patch surveys is not a scientific random sample of any larger population, but rather an effort to listen to a swath of influential local Republican and Democratic activists, party leaders and elected officials in California. All of these individuals have agreed to participate in surveys, although not all responded to this week's questions.

Other points of interest from the survey:

  • While only three Republicans said Obama won the debate, 12 of the 18 surveyed said the media would declare Obama the winner.
  • By contrast, 13 out of 14 Democrats said the media would portray Obama as the winner, with one saying the media would suggest it was a draw.
  • In written statements, several Republicans said the key moment for conservatives would be the discussion of whether Obama portrayed the attacks on the U.S. Embassy as an act of terrorism the morning after they occurred.  Three respondents suggest Obama was lying in his claims that he did say the attacks were terrorism, two chided moderator Candy Crowley for backing up his claim. 1Seven out of 18 GOP respondents mentioned the Libya exchange as a key moment in the debate for conservatives, though only one said it would be a key moment for swing voters.
  • Five out of 14 Democrats mentioned the Libya exchange as a key moment for swing voters.
  • One GOP respondent wrote: "you'd have to be brain dead or willfully stupid to think that reelecting [Obama] is a good thing, but California is full of both types, so the First Failure will carry the state and we will reelect Fineswine."
  • Nine out of 18 Republicans said they "strongly agree" or "somewhat agree" that Romney's performance would help him win votes in California, while six said they were "neutral" about the statement.  Three said they somewhat disagreed.
  • Thirteen out of 14 Democratic responders said they "strongly agree" or "somewhat agree" that Obama's performance would help him win votes in California, with one saying he was "neutral."

Obama and Romney next meet on Monday at Lynn University, Boca Raton, FL, at 6 p.m. Pacific Time. Stay tuned to Patch for continuing coverage of the presidential debates.

Patch will be conducting Red California and Blue California surveys throughout 2012 in hopes of determining the true sentiment of Republicans and Democrats on the ground in California. If you are an activist, party leader or elected official and would like to take part in a weekly surveys that lasts just a few minutes, please email Sandra Oshiro.

Palomar Parkman October 18, 2012 at 01:17 pm
It amazes me how people can so easily distort the obvious to satisfy their own views and politics. To the same extent that Romney clearly won the first debate, this was a clear win for the Democrats. This is indicative of the underlying problem in our country. The Polarization of political views truly threatens our democracy. We need to find a road back to reason, compromise and civility.
Reality Check October 18, 2012 at 03:19 pm
The obvious and head-scratchingly odd efforts of the GOP and Romney campaign to desperately manufacture controversy and make political points off how/when/what was communicated about the Libya Benghazi consulate attack shows they're truly on the ropes. This is nothing more than a nakedly craven attempt at distraction from the core issues that deeply affect and concern the electorate on a day-in, day-out basis ... the ones Romney is weak and losing on: the economy, tax policy, healthcare, defense vs. domestic spending, education, the environment, the religious/sex-based war on reproductive health and freedom, energy policy, foreign policy, Supreme Court appointments, etc. ... the very issues the American 99% should and, one would hope, they will be using to decide for whom to cast their votes.
Michael Craig October 18, 2012 at 03:51 pm
Romney clearly and accurately stated about 23 million Americans unemployed or underemployed. Obama's response? Wait-the Moderator does a miraculous save and doesn't let Obama respond and moves on to the next question! Obama lies and says he called the attacks on Libya a Terrorist Attack and Romney disagrees-Wait-The Moderator again saves Obama again by incorrectly stating that he did call it a Terrorist Attack the day after! Not quite true as he merely mentioned that America "will not be intimidated by terrorist acts" but does not clearly state that it was an organized terrorist attack until 2 weeks later. He went on AFTER his mention of a terrorist act and told the U.N. that we will not tolerate hatred in America and blamed a video that the President of Libya said had "Nothing to do with a video" and "was an organized terror attack on the anniversary of 9/11".Hillary fell on the sword for him regarding the security lapse in Libya. Only AFTER Hillary Clinton took one for the Obama team that does he finally say "the buck stops here-I am ultimately responsible not Hillary". It wouldn't have sounded hollow if you had said that BEFORE Hillary saved your hide. After Obama's apology tour-there are still radical muslim terrorists that want to kill us. It hasn't been peacetime since 9/11 attacks and Obama is either naive or stupid to think by telling all the radical jihadists that we are sorry-that they will stop wanting to killl us. Get rid of Obama!
Bell D October 18, 2012 at 04:10 pm
Oboma clearly won this round. As a moderate Democrat, I must say he is weak on the economy. But I don’t think I can get myself to vote for Romney.
Justin October 18, 2012 at 05:11 pm
Today's news: Tagg Romney, the eldest of Mitt Romney's five sons, said on Wednesday that he wanted to “take a swing” at President Obama during Tuesday night’s debate, BuzzFeed reports.
What a class act! . You didn't hear Obama's children talking about wanting to take a swing at Romney for lying and interrupting at the first debate. Just saying.
Jo Tog October 18, 2012 at 05:30 pm
No, but you heard plenty from obama's supporter, i.e. Eva Longoria, who is campaigning with Obama say lots of ugly things about conservative women. And then there is the Million Dollar Maher, who just recently said some very ugly comments about Ann Romney. ANyway, Obama needs a good slap, I hear he smokes lots of weed.
Jo Tog October 18, 2012 at 05:32 pm
Obama is THE WELFARE President. Newt had it right.
Andrew Peceimer October 18, 2012 at 06:03 pm
More welfare not jobs!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/oct/18/welfare-spending-jumps-32-percent-four-years/
Justina Trollinger October 18, 2012 at 06:36 pm
Today's news: Michelle "Muscles" Obama, wife of the POTUS, said on Wednesday that she wanted to “kick the ass" of Mitt Romney during Tuesday night’s debate, TheBuzz reports.
What a class act! . You didn't hear Romney's wife talking about wanting to take a swing at Obama for lying and interrupting at the first debate. Just saying.
Justin October 18, 2012 at 06:55 pm
Vince: Pathetic doesn't even begin to describe your sophomoric behavior. I feel sorry for you. I quoted--you fabricated. However, we have grown to expect that from you. Ok, go finish your homework before mom comes home.
Justin October 18, 2012 at 07:04 pm
Nice one, Paul Ryan.
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/soup-kitchen-ryan-photo-op-losing-donors-203033279--election.html
Justina Trollinger October 18, 2012 at 07:19 pm
Biden Says GOP Has ‘Bullets … Aimed at You,’ Confuses Afghanistan and Iran:
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/10/biden-says-gop-has-bullets-aimed-at-you-confuses-afghanistan-and-iran/ Nice one, Joe Biden!
Chester October 18, 2012 at 07:22 pm
I heard you are ignorant!
Justina Trollinger October 18, 2012 at 07:51 pm
Anyone who reads what Justin writes must love fiction. He is truly the Stephen King of the blogosphere/online forums, except without that "talent" and "brains" thingy - two things that have absolutely no place in Justin's hateful, vengeful little world.
I particularly enjoyed that award winning piece Justin penned on the Republican National Convention which showed the GOPers making a racist/bigoted attack on the Puerto Rico delegation. Only thing is, and it's a minor detail, the entire video was exposed to be a complete fraud. But that doesn't stop our little Justin. He just shrugs it off, holds his head up high, struts up to his keyboard just like Tiger Woods sinking a long putt to win The Masters, and proceeds to author his next tall tale of fiction. Add this pathological behavior to the list, which includes "the sun coming up in the morning", of things you can count on.
Vegas Baby Vegas! October 19, 2012 at 03:10 am
Some Giants and Niners , smart ones http://www.ranker.com/list/sports-republican-and-famous-or-republican-sports-stars/famous-conservatives
Justin October 19, 2012 at 05:50 pm
Another genius. Is this moron Akin's twin? It's one thing to oppose abortion, but it's another thing to be an idiot with no medical knowledge.
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/congressman-says-abortions-never-necessary-save-life-mother-175130900--election.html
Vince Chutney October 20, 2012 at 02:40 pm
List of bankrupt and failing "energy-of-the-future" companies and how much taxpayer money they've taken down with them thanks to Obummer:
Evergreen Solar ($24 million)* SpectraWatt ($500,000)* Solyndra ($535 million)* Beacon Power ($69 million)* AES’s subsidiary Eastern Energy ($17.1 million) Nevada Geothermal ($98.5 million) SunPower ($1.5 billion) First Solar ($1.46 billion) Babcock and Brown ($178 million) EnerDel’s subsidiary Ener1 ($118.5 million)* Amonix ($5.9 million) National Renewable Energy Lab ($200 million) Fisker Automotive ($528 million) Abound Solar ($374 million)* A123 Systems ($279 million)* Willard and Kelsey Solar Group ($6 million) Johnson Controls ($299 million) Schneider Electric ($86 million) Brightsource ($1.6 billion) ECOtality ($126.2 million) Raser Technologies ($33 million)* Energy Conversion Devices ($13.3 million)* Mountain Plaza, Inc. ($2 million)* Olsen’s Crop Service and Olsen’s Mills Acquisition Company ($10 million)* Range Fuels ($80 million)* Thompson River Power ($6.4 million)* Stirling Energy Systems ($7 million)* LSP Energy ($2.1 billion)* UniSolar ($100 million)* Azure Dynamics ($120 million)* GreenVolts ($500,000) Vestas ($50 million) LG Chem’s subsidiary Compact Power ($150 million) Nordic Windpower ($16 million)* Navistar ($10 million) Satcon ($3 million) *-- Denotes companies that have filed for bankruptcy. And Obama wants to make more such "investments!"
Vince Chutney October 20, 2012 at 02:44 pm
Your "stimulus" tax dollars in action, as reported by WOOD-TV, Ch. 8 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Their "Target 8" news unit filed this report ...
"Workers at LG Chem, a $300 million lithium-ion battery plant heavily funded by taxpayers, tell Target 8 that they have so little work to do that they spend hours playing cards and board games, reading magazines or watching movies. "They say it's been going on for months. "'There would be up to 40 of us that would just sit in there during the day,' said former LG Chem employee Nicole Merryman, who said she quit in May. "'We were given assignments to go outside and clean; if we weren't cleaning outside, we were cleaning inside. If there was nothing for us to do, we would study in the cafeteria, or we would sit and play cards, sit and read magazines,' said Merryman. 'It's really sad that all these people are sitting there and doing nothing, and it's basically on taxpayer money.'"
Vince Chutney October 20, 2012 at 02:52 pm
Biden's Believe It or Not:
When questioned about Obama's debate proclamation about establishing government rules requiring cars to get double today's gas mileage, it was pointed out that Obama can't just re-write the laws of physics. Nor can engineers. It takes X-amount of energy to move X-amount of weight a given distance. Biden's response was the following: "These laws of physics--whose rules are those? We need to change that. We have the Congress and the administration. We can repeal that law, amend it, or use an executive order to get rid of that problem. That's why we're here, to fix this sort of issue."

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