In the 2012 election, Mitt Romney won a decisive victory in the 1st debate over Barack Obama.
And did worse than him in the second and much worse in the third debate.
He gained a lead in the polls that was cancelled by Obama's solid performance in responding to Hurricane Sandy.
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Romney did not get a lead in the polls. He merely narrowed Obama's lead and this had been mostly reversed after the next two debates, before Hurricane Sandy. In any case, this narrowing concerned the popular vote. Obama's lead in the Electoral College was never really in doubt.
He would have looked ridiculous trying to usurp the President's functions.
