Filled with constant tweets, YouTube glitches and an assortment of conflicted battles over tax plans, the 2012 domestic policy debate was one to remember.  While Mitt Romney’s tax cut proposals consumed the majority of the opening moments in his first debate versus President Barack Obama, the two candidates each had their fair share of disagreements.

Obama and Romney feverishly tried to align themselves with middle-class Americans throughout the debate, each claiming that his primary focus was job creation. In a debate that was originally planned to focus on domestic policy, it seemed as though the vast majority of domestic issues went unmentioned. Immigration, women’s rights, abortion, unions, gay rights and climate change failed to earn even a single two-minute section during the 90-minute debate.

Seemingly poised and well-prepared, Romney zeroed in on the weak economic growth and eight percent unemployment that has left Obama vulnerable in his effort to win a second four-year term. Yet, quick to adjust the flow of attacks, Obama was fast to put Romney on the defense about his current proposals for overhauling the U.S. tax system.

Social Media & Social Psychology

Here at Rank Executives, our social media consultants constantly consider the effects of social media, including its impact on voters and on the election. This year, YouTube tried an interesting spin on the live broadcast of the debate. A constant flood of tweets filled the screen of viewers around the nation.

In our own analysis, it seemed that the vast majority of viewers quickly switched focus away from the candidates. As more and more viewers read the influx of tweets from users were saying about the presidential debate on Twitter, less focuses was given to the actual issues. One has to wonder who makes the choice regarding which tweets are presented infront of the millions of viewers.

The moment 7:30 struck, YouTube was fast to instantly pull the stream and sieze the broadcast. YouTube has not yet released any additional information regarding this glitch.

But, Who Won

From a purely neutral perspective. It is still too early to judge. Initial analysis of the reactions from the social spheres are leaning toward Mitt Romney.