| Friday, October 05, 2012 7:45 AM

They reckon about 60 million Americans would have tuned into what was dubbed the 'duel in Denver' or the 'clash in Colorado'.

Two loquacious men, rarely missing a beat, arguing like wonks about numbers and visions. Yes the great American Presidential debate, in one corner the former Mormon missionary Mitt Romney and in the other the much younger man who at times sounds like a snake oil salesman Barack Obama.

They spent more than an hour talking past each other before stepping down from their podiums, warmly shaking each other by the hand and embracing each other's families.

Romney went into the debate the underdog but came out of it like a prize puppy. He must have thought all his Christmases had come at once, given that his opponent didn't go for the Achilles heal, the widely held view that Mormon Mitt's millions gives the perception that he's out of touch with the struggles of everyday Americans.

And when they started arguing about tax, Obama certainly had the ammunition with Romney's use off offshore tax havens and the many years of tax returns he's yet to disclose but The President clearly forgot to load the gun. It was Romney who talked about entitlement, about the perks of the Presidency, his own plane and of course the House on Pennsylvania Avenue in DC.

America's first black African President did though go after the handkerchief vote, reminding his audience about his tough upbringing and the struggles his grandmother coped with on her welfare cheque. Sounded a bit like State Homie John Key's tale when he was running for office about his solo mum on welfare and in a state house in the City of Silt.

All in all it was a stage managed affair with the combatants more like Chihuahuas than American pitbull terriers.

The popular opinion declared Romney the winner, but that's probably got more to do with the fact that so little was expected of this gaff prone politician.

And there are still two debates to go, surely enough time then for Obama to prime the pistol!

Photo: Getty Images