Every day until the election, Slate will offer up one reason to be optimistic for your candidate.
33 days to go:
Today’s Good News for Obama: Last night wasn’t Obama’s night. Maybe expectations were too high. Regardless, after the presidential debate, reporters called his performance listless and detached and tense and defensive. Even some of his biggest fans said Obama seemed sad, confused, and lame. Voters handed Romney the win. The upside: Obama’s favorability rating didn’t change. Before the debate, 49 percent of voters had a favorable opinion of Obama, and afterward 49 percent still did. After a long campaign in 2008 and four years as president, it will take more than one bad night to shake America’s opinion of Obama. Voters aren’t angry—they’re just disappointed.
