SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - The Hinckley Institute of Politics and the University of Utah associate director Tim Chambless graded President Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney during their first presidential debate.
Chambless gives the grade of incomplete because the fact checkers need more time do look into what both men said.
The debate was a verbal sword fight. Romney took the offensive stance keeping Mr. Obama on the defense most of the night.
"The strongest criticism put forth by Mitt Romney dealt with the economy because he pointed out the high level of unemployment being over 8 percent the number of jobs being lost," said Chambless.
ABC 4's Noah Bond responded, "President Obama when he was responding to Mitt Romney I remember he said I inherited all of these problems. I inherited this I inherited that. You know a lot of people in Utah don't want to hear that." Chambless responded, "Barack Obama has made promises he hasn't achieved those promises yet. He asked for a second four year term," Chambless said.
The overall flow of the debate was Romney attacking Mr. Obama's record. It is probably the first time anyone has seriously challenged the Commander in Chief for the United States of America since he took office almost four years ago.
"His responses were on the conservative side and on the cautious side. I think he was playing it safe, which is a mistake," Chambless said.
The two remaining Presidential Debates are October 16 and 22.
