Nominees duel

Roosevelt County Democratic Party Chair Linda Uttaro said she didn't believe there was a winner and the only losers in Wednesday's presidential debate were the American people.

Larry Smith, Roosevelt County Republican Party chair, thought Republican candidate Mitt Romney was better than President Barack Obama.

"Obama didn't jab back," Uttaro said. "Romney said a lot of untrue things. I'm disappointed in Obama."

Smithsaid both candidates were weak in the area of education but thought Romney was clear and concise when talking about the deficit, the economyand the role of government.

MCT photo

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, left, and U.S. President Barack Obama attend the first presidential debate at Denver University on Wednesday, October 3, 2012, in Denver, Colorado.

"I thought he was more knowledgeable and confident of the two," Smith said about Romney. "Obama seemed to be uncomfortable and hesitant. I was surprised at the difference and I'm pleased of course. I think it showed that Romney would be a better president."

Uttaro said Romney isn't transparent and felt his words weren't clear.

"Romney let us know he's still for the rich, he'll give them for whatever they want," she said. "That came across loud and clear for me. When he used the term clean coal, there's no such thing as clean coal. He doesn't know anything about energy. Romney flip flops so you knew he would change things he said before."

David Stone, a Portales banker and Republican, was clearly pleased with Romney's effort.

Though Stone says he feels Obama is a great orator, he couldn't believe how good Romney was. He thought it would have been just a victory to have Romney tie with Obama as a debater but Romney's performance surpassed Stone's expectations.

"It looked like Obama was hoping he would hurry and get it over with," Stone said. "I think Romney dispelled any negative things that have been said about him. I'm so much more for him now."

Stone says he does like Obama but disagrees with some of his policies.

Democrat Wendel Sloan of Portales felt neither candidate scored a clear-cut victory.

"The biggest difference I noticed in the debate was that President Obama has a record of policies in office that can be defended or attacked," Sloan said. "While Romney does not have that record and thus, did not have to offer specifics on some of his major talking points, such as cutting tax loopholes and how he would replace the Affordable Care Act."

Sloan's hopes for the next presidential debate is for Romney to offer more specifics.

"Despite the silly season of politics, I still think that both candidates are good, decent people and all the demonizing of them by people who support the other candidate is embarrassing and not worthy of our democracy," he said.

Eastern New Mexico University professor Donald Elder said Romney did exactly what he needed to do to change the dynamic of the race.

"Clearly in my opinion he won the debate tonight," Elder, a Democrat, said of Romney. "It surprised me, he kind of disassociated himself with his tax plan. I think that threw Obama for a loop and I don't think he knew how to respond to that."

Elder said the Obama knew he was ahead in the polls and one of his strong points is that he had a likeability factor stronger than Romney.

"Romney knew the only thing he could do was attack Obama," Elder said. "He criticized various aspects. Some of the things he said were clearly not true."

Elder said the debate was an obvious setback for Obama and the weeks to come will be interesting to see.

"What Obama needs to do is expose the contradiction in Romney," he said. "He needs to do a better job in articulating the good things that has happened under his presidency."