By HANNAH DUNN-GRANDPRE – Digital Managing Editor
3 – The number of debates the two presidential candidates, President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, will participate in by the Nov. 6 election. Of the debates, two have already been held on Oct. 3 and Oct. 16. The final debate will take place on Oct. 22 on the campus of Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla.
39 – The percentage of viewers who thought Romney won the debate on Oct. 16.
46 – The percentage of viewers who perceived Obama as winning the debate held on Oct. 16.
7.8 percent – the current national unemployment rate according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, up 1.3 percent from this time in the 2008 election season. This headlined the debate, after a college student asked if he would have a job by the time he graduates.
$3.75 – National average price of gas on Oct. 17, according to the American Automobile Association. In the debate, candidates expressed their ideas on how they would lower this number if elected.
72 – The percent of pay women receive compared to male workers with the same job, described as “one aspect of inequalities in the workplace,” a point that sparked much conversation at the debate.
47 percent – At a fundraiser in May a video was taken ofRomney stating that the alleged 47 percent of Americans who don’t pay income taxes “believe that government has a responsibility to care for them” and “believe that they are entitled.” At the Oct. 16 debate, Obama brought this up, explaining to the audience that this 47 percent consists of retired workers on social security, veterans and soldiers overseas, as well as students looking for jobs.
14 – The number of days before Obama said that the attacks on the American Embassy in Benghazi, Libya were officially an “act of terror.” At the debate there was a dispute, Obama claiming it was labeled as such the next day when in actuality it was not for two weeks.
37 – The number of times moderator Candy Crowley was forced to interrupt Romney and Obama when their responses lasted longer than the two-minute time limit for each posed question.
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Front page image courtesy of ABC News
