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Empathy gap, women voters at play during town hall presidential debate

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Compiled by Jackie Hicken, Deseret News

Published: Tuesday, Oct. 16 2012 2:06 p.m. MDT

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Summary

The first debate helped Mitt Romney improve the empathy gap and tighten the presidential race among women voters — now the second debate, set in a town hall format tonight, could continue or end that streak.

More Coverage
  • Pres. Obama goes on attack, Mitt Romney counters in second presidential debate

  • Second presidential debate begins in New York

  • Obama under fire: Media outlets assail president

  • In Iowa, Obama increases focus on younger voters

  • President Barack Obama out to seize momentum from Mitt Romney in debate

  • What to watch for in tonight's debate: A more forceful Obama

  • Ryan-Romney ticket throttles up in final Va. push

  • Town hall format 'wild card' in second Romney/Obama debate

  • View a guide to the debates

  • Presidential town hall debate turns 20 as Mitt Romney, Pres. Obama prepare to meet Tuesday

“When it comes to debating, Barack Obama might be the new Messiah to his followers — but he's no Bill Clinton.”

Tim Stanley, The Telegraph

Surveys in Virgnia have found that "men and women held nearly opposite views of which candidate was better on the economy: Women said Obama was superior on that front, 52 to 39, while men said it was Romney, 51 to 40," Henneberger wrote. "It's on that issue that Obama has to make his case with both men and women if he really intends to win this thing."

Aides said Romney will not specifically try to woo women during the Tuesday debate, but that he would continue to present himself as the best alternative for all constituencies, The New York Times reported.

"Our internal polling shows strong movement toward Governor Romney over the past two weeks," Rich Beeson, the campaign's political director, said in a memo. "It also shows serious movement by independent voters, women, and those who were soft supporters of President Obama toward the Romney-Ryan ticket."

Voters may have considered the Oct. 11 vice presidential debate a draw, a CNN poll suggested, but The Atlantic reports that Ryan's performance might have helped improve the ticket's standing with women voters by charming "grannies."

"I thought Paul Ryan came out looking very responsible and intelligent, and personally I did not think the vice president did," Susan Seifert, a 65-year-old retired housewife said.

"I thought Paul Ryan was respectful and knowledgeable. He was head and shoulders above the other man," said Nancy Runion, a 58-year-old office manager. "Biden was very disrespectful. But Paul Ryan showed a lot of character."

Related Stories
  • Pres. Obama goes on attack, Mitt Romney counters in second presidential debate

  • Second presidential debate begins in New York

  • Obama under fire: Media outlets assail president

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Featured Comments

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one vote
Salt Lake City, UT

Did playing single mothers for gun increase the gap to unelectable?

  • 10:06 p.m. Oct. 16, 2012
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About the Author
Jackie Hicken

Jackie Hicken

Jackie Hicken is web producer for DeseretNews.com. She previously worked as a reporter for CongressNow in Washington, D.C., and wrote for The Uintah Basin Standard and The Daily Universe. She is also an award-winning news more ..

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