So, is this gonna be the excuse for Zero’s poor showing? He had the flu?
No, I think they'll reserve that excuse for the debate he doesn't bother showing up for!
Doesn't matter, as long as they can spin it as Obama was just "off his game". The debate was about the economy, and Obama can't win that on his record. They've successfully made the news about how Obama blew the debate because he just had a bad night, not because he just flat couldn't defend what he's done for the last four years.
I think it's entirely possible that the debate about the economy was intentionally up first, so Obama would "flub" it, and be able to come back strong on debates about other subjects where his record is easier to obfucate. I don't believe for one minute this isn't being coordinated between the press and Obama's campaign.
It'll have to do because he can't blame Bush for this one!