Romney’s 47 Percent Comment Not Mentioned By Obama In Debate

Democrats upset that president avoided proven potent campaign attacks

Democrats, after the presidential debate on Wednesday night, were wondering if President Barack Obama intentionally avoided mentioning Mitt Romney’s “47 percent” remark during the pair first face off. The comment, videotaped at a private fundraiser for wealth donors in April, revealed the former Massachusetts governor’s feelings about a class of Americans he said felt “entitled” to government benefits. The comment has precipitated a battle group polling drop for Romney and a bump the president, but Obama didn’t mention it at all. "Why not push the 47 percent comment that is the subject of saturation ads? Keep pres above it? Or deny Gov Romney chance to explain it?" tweeted the New York Times’ Carl Hulse. The Obama campaign was quick to spin the president’s performance: "I think the president wanted to come in tonight and not deliver attack lines," said Obama campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki. "He wanted to lay out what his plans were -- what his economic plans were, how he was going to protect health care and we did exactly that." People generally felt Obama lost the debate. CNN and CBS News instant reaction polling gave debate victory to Romney. (Huffington Post)

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