HEMPSTEAD, NY - The polls are showing a near even split for who won tonight's presidential debate between Mitt Romney and Barack Obama. Below is reaction from campaign surrogates on the spin room floor in New York.
"He did great. I think Mitt Romney did a great job of pointing out that candidate Obama promised Root Beer in every drinking fountain and never delivered on those promises and I think that Governor Romney also painted a picture for the future, get the jobs and the economy and our fiscal house in order. The country is ready for a turn around, they just want to feel comfortable with Romney/Ryan and I think he accomplished that." -Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah)
"I think the President was successful at showing how rude he was. I think the President has really made two or three dishonest statements that will come back to bite him. The dishonest statements on the permits for oil, the permits for shale gas and that silly right at the end where he tried to make the public think he condemned the acts in Libya as terrorism when he went to the Rose Garden and he was two weeks later talking about video six times at the U.N. I think the President got caught lying and was dishonest tonight and I think it's going to hurt him in the campaign." -Former Governor John Sununu (R-N.H.)
"I think he [President Obama] was on point, I think he was strong and I think it was about having a steak dinner with his wife." -Obama For America Campaign Manager Jim Messina
"Tonight it's pretty clear President Obama had a strong, decisive performance. Mitt Romney was rattled, he was pacing the stage, arguing with the moderator, you know and uncomfortable in his own positions. He really came across as somebody who was hiding from his own positions and more as an empty suit rather than someone who is ready to be commander-in-chief." -Obama Campaign Press Secretary Jen Psaki
