Decisive Denver Debate

Squaring-off at the University of Denver, the incumbent Barack Obama and the GOP nominee Mitt Romney met face-to-face for the first of three presidential debates Wednesday night.

The event, hosted by moderator Jim Lehrer, focused on domestic policies, including the deficit, Medicare and education.

Post-debate polls immediately went to Romney, citing his aggression, passion and energy, but with his all-to-familiar lack of detail. The same polls cited Obama as underwhelming; even cold.

Romney introduced a five-step process that diverges from the President’s current “top-down” policies. It included getting America energy-independent, opening up more foreign trade, balancing the federal budget and championing small business.

Romney also urged America to crack down on China, “if and when they cheat.”

Romney said the role of government is not to be the economic player, picking winners and losers, but to make the private sector more efficient and effective.

Obama persistently referred to Romney’s $5 trillion tax cuts, accusing the nominee of exacerbating the problems that have devastated the economy over the past decade.

“If you believe we can cut taxes by $5 trillion and add $2 trillion in additional spending the military is not asking for,” Obama said, “then Governor Romney’s plan may work for you.”

Obama said asking how we pay for that without dumping costs onto middle-class Americans is a central question of the campaign.

The Brooking Institute’s Tax Policy Center determined large tax cuts to high-income households while increasing the tax burdens on middle-class families under the Romney plan.

Despite the finding, Romney acknowledges, “You’ll never balance the budget by raising taxes.”

ObamaCare, the President’s signature health-care law, was an issue of contention. While Romney aspires to cleave the program if elected, he lacked specifics on how he would replace the program.

Liberal comedian Bill Maher tweeted during the event, “Obama is not looking like he came for a job interview; Romney does.”

Democratic strategist James Carville said it looked like Obama did not want to be there, but expected a big pushback from the President.

This is reflective of the mounting pressure, as absentee ballots are already being filled just weeks before the election.