CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) -
In the third and final presidential debate Monday night, both candidates did their best to convince undecided voters. But with just over two weeks until election day, does it even matter at this point?It didn't take long for the zingers to come out.
President Barack Obama, swung first, blasting Governor Romney for being weak on foreign policy.
"I know you haven't been in a position to actually execute foreign policy but every time you've offered an opinion, you've been wrong," the president said.
But Romney kept his cool and calmly yet effectively responded by saying, "attacking me is not an agenda. Attacking me is not talking about how we're going to deal with the challenges in the Middle East and take advantage of the opportunities there."
WBTV's Brigida Mack watched the debate alongside Dr. Karen Kedrowski, chair of Winthrop University Political Science Department. She wasn't surprised to see President Obama taking every opportunity to show Romney's weakness on foreign affairs.
"President Obama has been very eager to establish himself as commander in chief and in fact, he has used that phrase as 'commander-in-chief' or I'm 'commander-in-chief' three times already," she pointed out.
But Kedrowski also said Romney did his best to show he was knowledgeable on foreign policy.
"He has tried to cover for some past errors but has done so in a way that seems to be very fluid,"
Still, at this late in the campaign, does the outcome of the debate even matter?
Very little, said Kedrowski who pointed out foreign policy isn't issue number one -- the economy is.
"We know that voters actually are far more likely to vote their pocketbook issues," she said. "Then next it will be domestic issues so foreign policy is a bit of stretch for most voters."
Election Day is November 6.
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