Head to Head: Obama vs. Romney in the First Presidential Debate

Here is a shot of each candidate’s facial expressions at a point in the debate when Romney was speaking.  This juxtaposition is highly indicative of how the audience perceived each candidate, regardless of what they said.  To watch the debate in full (or just a portion of it), click here.

   This past Wednesday marked the first Presidential debate between President Barack Obama and former Governor Mitt Romney.  Held in Denver, Colorado, and moderated by Jim Lehrer of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), this debate focused on domestic issues, specifically the economy, healthcare, the role of government, and governing.  Each candidate’s purpose was to convince undecided American voters to vote for them, and it is fascinating how diction, tone, facial expressions, and body language influenced the audience’s perception of the candidates.  Both candidates effectively used ethos, pathos, logos, and anecdotes to appeal to the average American.  However, throughout the debate, President Obama did not make eye contact with Romney and often wore an expression of boredom and superiority.  Though he effectively substantiated his plans for America, he distanced himself from the audience through his explanatory tone.  Overall, I do not think his purpose was fulfilled because his negative body language undermined many of his statements.  In addition, Obama did not challenge Romney, while Romney consistently questioned Obama’s claims.  Romney effectively appealed to and engaged with the audience through his ardent tone of voice.  Although he grimaced painfully most of the time Obama was speaking, and was unable to give specifics about his own policies, he seemed passionate and confident about his plans.  I feel that this positively influenced the audience in his favor, and that Romney was able to accomplish his purpose.  It will be interesting to note how the rhetorical strategies of each candidate may change in upcoming debates.