CNN, CBS, FOREIGN POLICY (U.S.)
Polls and pundits are giving another tight win for President Obama after the third and final debate at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida.
With the focus on foreign policy, there were no marquee moments in the Monday night debate: No big bird. No binders full of women. To keep your attention, here instead are some cold, hard numbers to stir into your warm morning coffee:
53% - An instant snapshot poll conducted by CBS handed Obama another victory with 53% saying he performed better, while 23% gave the nod to Mitt Romney, and 24% viewed the debate as a draw. Respondents to a CNN survey also gave it to Obama by 48% to Romney's 40%.
1917 - Obama had the night's best zinger of the night. Answering Mitt Romney's claim that the U.S. Navy has fewer ships than it had in 1917, Obama replied: "You mentioned the navy, for example, and that we have fewer ships than we did in 1917. Well, governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets, because the nature of our military's changed. We have these things called aircraft carriers, where planes land on them. We have these ships that go underwater, nuclear submarines."
I think POTUS just sank Romney's battleship
— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) October 23, 2012
47 - By far, the country with the most mentions in the debate was Iran, reports bi-monthly magazine Foreign Policy. In a surprising departure from harsher rhetoric, Mr. Romney said he wants to use "peaceful and diplomatic means" to persuade Iran to cease its nuclear program.
2014 - Mr. Romney also agreed with President Obama on the deadline for the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. He said, “We’re going to be finished by 2014, and when I’m president, we’ll make sure we bring our troops out by the end of 2014.”
4 - Mali was mentioned for the first time in any presidential debate last night. In his very first answer, Romney cited the rise of al-Qaeda in the land-locked African country, and Mali was mentioned another three times in the context of the ever present question of terrorism.
Governor, I'll see you your Mali and raise you a Chad. You're not going to leave Chad hanging, are you?
— felix salmon (@felixsalmon) October 23, 2012
35 - China was the second hottest topic in the debate with 35 mentions. As China continues to flex its muscles as a world-super power, Romney declared: "In order to be able to fulfill our role in the world, America must be strong," Romney said. "America must lead, and for that to happen, we have to strengthen our economy here at home."
14 - The number of days left until election day on November 6.
