By: Mike Hosking | Wednesday, October 17, 2012 11:29 AM

Debate day in America.

I've enjoyed the first two, didn't think Romney's performance in the first one would prove to be quite the potential turning point it
appears to have been.

And Biden in the second gave a lovely demonstration as to why just sometimes a bit of age and experience on wieghty matters stands you in good stead.

And i think it's also fair to suggest that for all the cocks ups and red face moments he's given Obama over the past four years... they’ve been forgiven because if it wasn’t for that performance, God only knows what sort of panic the democracts would be in ahead of tonight's buisness.

Which is not to say they shouldn’t be worried because they should - they know beyond any shadow of a doubt that 1) debates do matter after all, and 2) it's an Obama must win ...given Romney already has a win under his belt.

If you're being impartial about it all ...this is still the incumbant's race.

Despite all the media have tried to do about neck and neck polls ...the simple truth is the race isn't won nationally, it's won in swing states, and although the polls have tightened in those swing states as a result of the first debate, Obama still leads in the majority of them ...and certainly enough of them to get him acorss the line once you count up the delegates.

Remember also that polls tighten anyway the closer you get to voting day.

Remember also debate number 1 was on the economy which is Romney's strong point.

And 2) an area in which he should have had plenty of material to work with given the state of the finances.

But having said that there is increasing data to point to the fact there is life in America yet ...confidence is up... spending is up... jobs are up ..there is some growth both generally and in places like housing.

Certainly enough for the president to roll out some numbers that look a little brighter than they might have a year ago.

And then there's tonights format ...the town hall debate with the questions from the floor.

And who deals with that sort of thing better than most? ... Obama.

Romney's great weak link, has always been the fact he's not normal.

Not one of us... He's not as human... Not as real... Not as funny.

Obama works a floor and he works a crowd.

So although he'll be sweating the fact he lost the first one, you'd have to think he's backing himself tonight.

But what makes this game so exciting and why we keep coming back is not just because this is the biggest job in the world.

But because in this case... there's a bloke called Romney who's a genuine contender.

And a month or 50 back you wouldn't have been thinking that.