The breakdown of the CBS poll was somewhat similar - huge wins for Romney on the issues vs. Obama. The economy was even better on the CBS poll - 65-34% win for Romney.
Having been invited to watch the debate with 3 liberal neighbors, I can tell you that Obama did not win.
They were happy to see Obama fighting a little, but had nothing to say, occasionally hissing at the TV when Romney spoke. One of my neighbors said to me (I’m from MA, watching in Maine) “Hey so you say Romney did a good job as Governor of Maine?” ... I said “yeah, as good a job as you can do with an 87% democrat legislature.”
This neighbor is a former businessman. I think he’s secretly thinking of pulling the Romney lever.
They left with very little to say. I said “hey, the media will call it a tie” just to be nice.
I stayed for desert with the neighbor who is devoutly liberal. I said, to be nice and make conversation, “well, so what do you think, will Obama win” ... she said “I don’t know if he can, I don’t know why he would want to.”
The argument against Romney that followed damned Obama with faint praise: “Maybe what this Romney wants to do is better, but I don’t think we should change the course we’re on ... stay the course.”
Be prepared to counsel your Liberal friends and neighbors. They are truly depressed. Their eyes were also openned in the first debate, and were held open to bright light by this debate. They may not vote for Romney, but the Obama they will vote for is a completely different man than the illusion they bought into, and they know it now.
When liberals remember Obama, the memories will be filled with anger and feelings of betrayal. As far as they’re concerned - he quit on them, leaving them to look like fools in front of the hateful conservative wolves. And of course, he did quit ... and of course ... they were fools.