October 17, 2012 at 9:35 AM

President Obama and his campaign team have finally had the moment that they've been looking for. Under the bright lights and on the big stage they finally got the coveted endorsement of Honey Boo Boo. The President carried this momentum into the debate delivering a more than stellar performance.

Just as we suspected, he was not half asleep as he had been in the first debate, and he was more aggressive and specific. Romney's problem tonight was not a failure to match the President's aggression and specificity.

The much talked about moment in which the two of them were standing, facing one another discussing (of all things) drilling permits on federal lands pretty well sums the night up showing equal aggressive and conflicting specificity. The aggression was ultimately too much and the conversation suffered because of it. Romney's biggest problem tonight though was a failure to capitalize. The few times that Romney had the president in the red zone he failed to convert.

The question on Libya should have been a knockout for Romney. They've been preparing to discuss that issue since the minute it happened. The President's handling of the issue during the debate had Gov. Romney so genuinely surprised that he failed to make a point. The moment slipped away.

Romney's strongest answer of the night was his response to an audience member who had voted for Obama in 2008, but wasn't very excited here in 2012. If you're reading this, that might describe you. Look up Gov. Romney's response to this question. This was a broad reaching indictment of the Obama presidency.

If you're reading this as an undecided voter, I can't imagine either candidate tonight was able to sway you. This is the unfortunate reality of a debate like this one. The candidate able to persuade you in debate number three will likely be the next president of the United States.

By Jordan Harris, Chairman of the Penn State College Republicans