Local voters watch debate closely

WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) - A large crowd gathered in Warwick Wednesday for the highly-anticipated first Presidential debate between President Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney.

The onlookers included several college students, like Antonio Lombardi from CCRI.

"It's absolutely incredible to be a part of it," Lombardi said, "It's an opportunity for students to come together and the community to come together."

Nzinga Fitzgerald, a student at Rhode Island College, was asked if the debate would swing her vote.

"Absolutely," Fitzgerald said, "What I thought was correct about Romney may not have been."

"I'm a Democrat mostly on social issues but I'm interested in hearing other opinions though," said CCRI student Mike Culp.

The debate watching party was called "Debate Watch 2012" held by CCRI, RIC, and the American Democracy project.

Many people watching, like Steve Gerling of Riverside, focused on taxes for the middle class a point of contention between the two candidates.

"I'm finding that Romney for once is coming out and actually stating things that I've been waiting to hear from," Gerling said.

After the debate, there was a focus group where those who came out talked about how they thought the debate went.