As a part of The Spectrum's election coverage, four editors - Managing Editor Rebecca Bratek, Editorial Editor Ashley Steves, Senior Photo Editor Alexa Strudler and Senior Sports Editor Nathaniel Smith - have graded each of the Presidential Debates. We scored each candidate in five categories: aggressiveness, substance of points made, how each portrayed himself as a leader, overall likability and how well each engaged their audience during the debates. We averaged our scores and determined a victor.
Debate one totals
Aggressiveness: O -2, R - 4.75
Substance: O - 3, R - 3.5
Leadership: O - 1.5, R - 3.5
Likability: O - 2.5, R - 3.5
Engagement: O - 1.75, R - 3.75
Obama - 10.75
Romney - 19
Debate two totals
Aggressiveness: O - 4, R - 3
Substance: O - 3.25, R - 3
Leadership: O - 3.75, R - 3
Likability: O - 3.5, R - 3
Engagement: O - 4, R - 3.5
Obama - 18.5
Romney - 15.5
Debate three totals
Aggressiveness: O - 4.5, R - 4
Substance: O - 3, R - 2.5
Leadership: O - 4, R - 2.5
Likability: O - 3, R - 3
Engagement: O - 3.75, R - 2.75
Obama - 18.25
Romney - 14.75
Finals
Romney - 16.4
Obama - 15.8
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
