MSN readers respond to Obama-Romney debate

And they are as divided as the rest of America.

By Jonathan Berr Oct 17, 2012 11:58AM

President Barack Obama and GOP challenger Mitt Romney traded barbs at Tuesday night's debate as if they were heavyweight fighters vying for the championship belt.

Whether the candidates will change any minds of undecided voters is hard to say, judging from the comments submitted on MSN Money's Facebook page.

The election is shaping up as one of the closest in U.S. history, and the issue that is foremost on the minds of most Americans is the economy.

Obama rescued the auto industry from collapse, and in the view of many economists he prevented a second Great Depression. Though the economy is showing signs of improvement, growth has slowed to a crawl.

But the U.S. is growing. The economy in the Eurozone contracted by 0.2% between April and June. Telling Americans that things could be worse isn't much comfort to the millions struggling to pay their bills.

Many polls show the race is tightening as it heads to its final weeks, though Obama's performance last night was much better than in the first debate.

MSN Money readers seem to be as divided as most Americans. Below is a sample of the commentary submitted by readers supporting Obama and Romney, presented without comment by me. Some have been edited for space, clarity and style. They appear in no particular order.

Pro-Obama
Karen H: There is no doubt that Romney's budget doesn't add up. I hope the American people can figure it out. I doubt it because they have shown themselves to be idiots. Why do I say that? Eight years of George Bush.

Whittney A: The wealthy should pay the same percentage as the rest of taxpayers. That is only fair. They should do a bit more because they have been getting a break for a long time now. . . . It's not about doing more than anyone else. Its about doing the same as the rest of us.

Lauren T: When the election started I wanted anyone else besides Obama. However after looking at every piece of information I could find about the 2 candidates, I found myself horrified by what I was finding out about Romney's plan. Trickle-down economics isn't working. Time to try something, anything, else but that Regan-era system that is not working.

Pro-Romney
Elzabeth R: I have two kids, daycare, medical bills because my son is always sick, commuting bills of 100+ dollars a week, my mortgage, etc. I am not rich by any means, but you classify me as it and tax me higher. That is how the president has raised taxes.

Kellie J: Obama has yet to fix anything. We are going deeper in debt, and it needs to be stopped. This election is about picking the lesser of 2 evils. Will Romney get us out of debt? Maybe not, but Obama hasn't done anything to reverse the debt, so ask yourselves: Can we as a country really afford 4 more years of Obama, or should we give someone else a chance?

Bill L: Of the two of them, only Romney has run a business and created jobs. Government doesn't create jobs, but big government can hinder job growth. Romney is right: To grow here, we must make the US attractive to business.

Follow Jonathan Berr on Twitter@jdberr. And they are as divided as the rest of America.