Well, could have seen this coming.
The media appear to be anointing Romney as the winner of debate #1, just as they anointed Ronald Reagan the winner of his first debate, and Bush II the winner of his first debate.
Not based on saying things that were true. Not based on actually landing successful and valid critiques on their opponents. But just for showing up and not failing.
Romney didn't make any major gaffs, and didn't come off as either stupid or mean or evil. So the talking heads are declaring this a Romney Win. Chris Cilizza at the Washington Post called it "Romney's prepared competence".
Obama didn't do himself any favors. He was quiet and competent, but not particularly inspiring. (One wit tweeted that his plan is clearly to be the comeback kid in the second debate...). He won the last election as the Hope kid, not the accountant, but that's what he was tonight... rattling off number after number.
But humans don't connect with numbers. He needed more human connecting moments. Maybe Romney landed one or two of those, after an entire summer of coming off as an uncaring elitist who doesn't understand cookies or NASCAR rain ponchos.