What ABC-NBC-CBS-NYT-CNN-WASHPO-LAT Can’t Hide: Debate Changed Everything

What ABC-NBC-CBS-NYT-CNN-WASHPO-LAT Can’t Hide: Debate Changed Everything

The earth moved in Denver last week. A chunk of realist landscape broke through the media’s gloomy, impressionist artwork, as Mitt Romney dominated Barrack Obama in the first presidential debate.

All the king’s horses and all the king’s men insist one good performance by the challenger and one off night for the president don’t really change anything. But in fact, they change everything.

The race is recast for several reasons: Everything voters believe—or have endlessly heard-- about the candidates was called into question. Romney’s dismantling of the president wasn’t just a win. The...