LezGetReal cannot live blog the way some of the other sites do, at least not efficiently. So, let us be honest here and also say that the substance of the debate is not likely to be all that important since we have pretty much heard every answer that these guys are going to give. From the live blogging going on around the net, though, it seems that Obama is on the offensive while Romney is on the defensive. That is probably not a good place to be when you’re the challenger.

I am not the best person when it comes to body language. Honestly, I don’t pick up body language cues unless I’m paying attention; however, the body language is interesting.

Mitt Romney comes across as patronizing. When he isn’t speaking, he has this perpetual ‘I know better than you’ smirk on his face. Making matters worse for Romney is the fact that he appears to be constantly looking just a little down his nose at everyone. He also doesn’t know what to do with his hands, and often gesticulates in a manner that looks like he is not so much explaining something as selling something. When Romney looks away from Obama, he tends to tilt his head downward, but he constantly tends to look down on President Obama.

President Barack Obama, conversely, always gives off this slight bit of flirting with his eyes. In a sense, while Romney’s face is kind of like this Obama’s is more like this /

Romney also appears stiff. He isn’t having a conversation with the American people, but rather he is lecturing the American people.

With regards to tone, Romney comes off as slightly flat and droning. He does not have a lot of change in pitch. Instead, he comes across as being a little lifeless. Obama, on the other hand, stresses a lot of his words. He has a slight iambic pentameter to his voice. When Romney says “more money because they are working” at one point, his voice barely rises and falls even though his body language, though stiff, comes across as assertive. Obama stated “reVEnu NEUtral way”. He isn’t angry, but his voice is animated. His demeanor calm. Obama seems very assured of his points as well while Romney seems to constantly be going “and-and-and”.

I’m not sure how this analysis plays against others. Andrew Sullivan over at The Daily Beast- and most of the people there too- appear to feel that Obama is losing the debate, but I’m not sure how the substance, which Romney appears to be lacking, will play against the non-verbal cues which seem to be stronger for Obama.