What the voters say: Our panel reacts to last night's final presidential debate

Jake Duhaime, 28. Publicity and Special Projects manager, votes in Massachusetts

2008 – did not vote

2012 – plans to vote Romney

As someone who used to call Detroit home, it has been hysterical seeing both candidates discuss the auto industry, especially when they talk about jobs being shipped overseas. The thing I really marvel at, though is that Mitt Romney has not once, not ONCE, mentioned that earlier this year, government-owned Chevrolet pledged to spend $559 million to put its name on Manchester United's kit. That's 1,400 middle class jobs right there.

Michael Rasmussen, 55, Cybercrime Prevention Specialist, votes in Oregon
2008 – voted Obama
2012 – plans to vote Obama

Obama's night. Romney spent most of it agreeing with Obama's policies, and was called out for his shifting stands. Obama's gentlest, and perhaps best, reprimand was to mention Romney's disastrous overseas trip in August, while reminding us of how he comported himself while a candidate in 2008. In the closing moments Romney just repeated talking points about the economy - without a tie to foreign policy. He clearly knew he wasn't winning by discussing the subject matter at hand.

Katie McKernan, 40, Stay at home mom, votes in Virginia.
2008 – Voted McCain
2012 – Plans to vote Romney

You know who lost tonight? Ambien. Because nary a US citizen needed a sleep aid after that debate. The only people who watched the entire debate were political junkies, or people who have already made up their minds, myself included. For those who persevered, the President's assertion in his closing remarks that he will "always listen to your voices" rings terribly false. I still remember Mr. Obama calling me, and fellow Americans who objected to his policies "teabaggers." And claims that he stands by Israel? I'd like Netanyahu's opinion on that one.

José Hernández-Lagunes, 36. University employee, votes in Illinois.
2008 – did not vote
2012 – plans to vote Obama

Romney has no grasp of foreign policy, and an even worse knowledge of geography. He asserted that Syria is Iran's route to the sea. This just blew my mind. The president was insightful, funny, eloquent and poignant. Game, set, match, right? Well, I really doubt he's cinched this. I really, truly believe there are enough idiots in this country to elect Romney. Thankfully, I have dual citizenship. I can flee the sinking boat if this jackhole wins.

Diane Bergin, 44, Housewife. Votes in Florida.
2008 – Voted McCain
2012 – undecied

President Obama clearly doesn't prioritize national defense. He mocked Governor Romney on the military and that alone was a major drawback for me. We have these forces called “Special Operations” and they use whatever is necessary to get the job done, so the “bayonets and horses” comment was reckless. Although they both did well on the debate, I felt Romney had a more positive vision for the future.

Sandra Gross, 45. Copy editor, votes in Michigan.
2008 – voted Obama
2012 – plans to vote Obama

Romney lives in a 1950s white American male bubble. With his stumbling speech and apparent ignorance about Islam, it’s clear he doesn’t understand our diverse, modern world. He stated that the U.S. has the strongest military in the world in one breath, and that we need to cut tax deductions that are crucial to the U.S. middle class in order to strengthen our military in another breath. President Obama gave us detailed plans, while Romney just gave us slogans. It would be a disaster for the U.S. and the world if we elect Mitt Romney.

Chris Sasso, 24. Business owner and entrepreneur, votes in New York.
2008 – Voted McCain.
2012 – Plans to vote Romney

Since I started my business in 2007, I’ve seem competition from China increase exponentially. The amount of counterfeit products and manufacturing jobs switching from here at home to abroad is alarming. This is a greater problem than the President is willing to admit, and he has shown that over the last 4 years that it’s a problem he does not want to fix. Gov Romney's promise to label them a currency manipulator is a starting point that will drastically reverse this course.

Anna Schwiessinger, 31. Client Services Coordinator, votes in California.
2008 – voted Obama
2012 – plans to vote Obama

The exchange that ended with the Obama telling Romney that “we have fewer horses and bayonets" than during the Second World War, and telling him that military funding is “not a game of Battleship" is genius. I’m also glad that the President reminded Romney that he was invested in Chinese oil companies that did business with Iran.

Andy Sorensen, 23. University Student, votes in Minnesota.
2008 – Voted McCain
2012 – Plans to vote Romney

I may be an Obama opponent, but he did get us out of Iraq which he did promise, and takes credit for killing for Bin Laden. However, outside of that, the Obama foreign policy I feel has been a complete disaster. More often than not, he’s sat on the sidelines and, most recently in the case of the Libyan embassy bombing, proven that he isn’t capable of making big decisions. Romney showed that up tonight.

Brian Slack, 28. Business Consultant, votes in PA.
2008 – voted Obama
2012 – plans to vote Obama

Foreign policy is Mitt Romney's biggest perceived weakness, which is probably why we didn't hear any actual new ideas tonight. Instead, he basically said: “The President was right... but I would have done it sooner.” Speaking of Obama, he was mad tonight, and frankly I'm happy he snapped a bit. This was the culmination of a lot of lies, and frankly I'd be disappointed if he didn't get riled.

Molly McCallum, 41, PhD Student and Consultant.
2008 – voted Obama
2012 – plans to vote Obama

I did not feel like Romney was proposing much different from what Bush and, now, Obama is doing in many situations. But he sometimes drove a harder line, and it is much easier for a candidate to propose such harsh measures, like bombing a country, than for a sitting President to make the idle or hypothetical threats. I will continue to support Obama because I don’t believe Romney is equipped to handle a significant foreign policy challenge, and his social policies are unacceptable.

Ruben D. Sanchez, Jr., 40. Soldier in US Army National Guard/Flight Attendant, votes in Illinois.
2008 – Voted McCain
2012 – Plans to vote Romney

Obama's weakness in foreign policy became apparent in tonight's final debate. I do have to admit that Romney didn't take to president to task as aggressively for his foreign policy disasters as I would have liked. But Obama looked desperate tonight. At the same time, Gov. Romney just came off as a nice "peaceful" guy who can, nonetheless, can be President and Commander In Chief of the United States Armed Forces.

Olivia Fahey, 19. Student, Wisconsin.
2008 - did not vote
2012 – plans to vote Obama

I found it interesting that Romney says he’s so keen on bringing gender equality to the Middle East, especially considering how blatantly anti-woman his platform is. Romney's answers seemed somewhat weak, and lacking in substance, while I felt that the President was poised, well informed and firing on all cylinders.

Sam Miller, 33. Attorney, votes in Massachusetts
2008 – Voted McCain
2012 – Plans to vote Romney

The debate topics are outside of the knowledge of average voter, and both Romney and Obama recognized this by tying the answers to their campaign stump slogans. The two issues on which they differed were Israel and China. Obama stated he would "stand with" Israel if it were attacked, while Romney really made clear that he would defend Israel. On China, Romney used his strength on economic policy to highlight the differences between himself and Obama. Aside from these areas, it was very lacklustre.

Julie Saxenmeyer, 37. Development specialist for a public library system, votes in Maryland.
2008 – voted Obama
2012 – plans to vote Obama

I'm sure Romney supporters will disagree, but I thought Obama was the clear, decisive winner tonight. He has four years of experience in this job, and it showed. Governor Romney knew his talking points, but beyond that, he was clearly out of his league. He thinks that Syria is Iran's path to the sea. Has he looked at a map? Embarrassing. We need to have a leader who understands not only geography, but diplomacy. President Obama is the only man for the job.

Brian Clutter, 30. IT Support Specialist, votes in Ohio.
2008 – Voted McCain
2012 – Plans to vote Romney

My biggest take-away was Romney's obvious effort to differentiate himself from the cavalier Bush administration and how it handled foreign policy. It's refreshing to see the Republican Party pushing a platform of peace. Otherwise I thought the debate was a tie: President Obama looked Presidential (as he should) and Governor Romney did as well.

Toby Hatchett, 61. Freelance journalist, votes in New Hampshire.
2008 – voted Obama
2012 – plans to vote Obama

Words almost fail me. How anyone with a modicum of sense and rationality could possibly follow Romney's non-arguments, let alone agree with him, is beyond me. I must be naive in hoping my fellow country people are thinkers.

Clayton Bink, 52. Maintenance worker, votes in New York State.
2008 – Voted McCain
2012 – Plans to vote Romney

Tonights' debate made it obvious that Mitt Romney is completely capable of being POTUS. President Obamas' foreign policy has done nothing to make America safer, quite the opposite. Iran is four years closer to having a nuclear bomb, Al-Qa’ida is gaining strength, and we have had four Americans killed in Libya. The USA needs a President that will stand up to foreign bullies and not coddle them.

Kathy Tobiassen, 54. Home-maker, votes in New York
2008 – voted Obama
2012 – plans to vote Obama

here really didn't seem to be much difference between Obama and Romney in terms of policy. Often Mitt’s stance was: "I agree with what Pres. Obama did, but I would have done it sooner or more severely". It made him seem ineffectual and Obama more presidential because he actually understood the complexities of implementing policies.

Jamie Klingler, 34, Publishing Manager. Votes in Pennsylvania
2008 – voted Obama
2012 – plans to vote Obama

Romney’s claim that Syria is Iran’s route to sea is a bigger gaffe than Sarah Palin claiming she could see Russia from her house four years ago.  The Republican Party needs a crash course in geography before entering into foreign policy.  Romney managed to offend the entire UK, on his only trip there. Can you imagine what damage he could do on a world stage?  I’ve already sent in my vote and hope that this debate continued to push voters towards Obama.