Manayunk, Councilman Jones Welcome Debate Watchers

welcomed constituents from the Fourth District and throughout Philadelphia to a debate watching party between President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney at Zesty's in Manayunk.

As an event hosted by the Democratic majority leader of City Council, the crowd tended to skew toward the Obama side. In addition to Jones, City Council members Kenyatta Johnson (D-2) and Blondell Reynolds Brown (D-At-large) attended.

During the debate, cheers would ring out for the incumbent on certain issues and hisses against the challenger on others. Romney received few praises.

However, pauses and lulls also told a tale. After the debate, as the night winded down and people were asked to enthusiastically affirm the victor, a less-than-stellar cheer rose out for Obama.

Jones said he felt neither candidate landed any knock out punches Wednesday night but that the president laid groundwork for future debates. He discussed enthusiasm for Obama in 2012 compared to 2008.

"In 08, he was a myth and a legend and a movement. Today, we realize he's a man on a mission for our country. One of the things about being an executive is that you are never as popular as when you are sworn in," he said. 

Similar to the president's tactic during the debate, the councilman criticized Romney's lack of specificity with policy.

"You can see what the fear of a Romney Administration would be. He's not giving any clear direction on what he would do. Clearly, you know who he is for, and it's not for the (47 percent) of us who struggle every day to make ends meet," he said.

Overall, media outlets called the debate for Romney—a claim the Pennsylvania GOP leaped on.

PA GOP Chairman Rob Gleason said in a statement:

“Mitt Romney won tonight’s debate by illuminating the clear choice between his vision for a prosperous America and President Obama’s failed record. Pennsylvania voters who watched this debate saw a clear choice between a President who delivers flowery speeches filled with empty rhetoric or a real recovery under a Romney-Ryan Administration."

Check out photos from the event in Manayunk.

Additionally, view how the live conversation went from the Manayunk Democratic debate party and a Republican counterpart in Springfield, Delaware County.