President Barack Obama and former Gov. Mitt Romney faced off in the final presidential debate on Monday. Romney had clearly won the first debate and experienced a bump in his ratings across the board. Obama had performance issues; he wasn’t expecting Romney to challenge him.

For the second debate, Obama came ready to rumble but wasn’t prepared for Romney to fight back. Although the debate was entertaining to watch, it wasn’t good for Romney. Romney had stooped to Obama’s level. The second debate didn’t produce a clear winner; however, Romney had more substance.

Going into this final debate, Obama needed to win and win big. His approval ratings were in decline while Romney was pulling ahead in most polls. Foreign policy was the topic, and many thought that this would be a slam dunk for Obama because of Romney’s inexperience with foreign affairs. Those in the mainstream media and Obama may have forgotten that Romney did have some experience.

At first it seemed that Romney was playing it safe; he missed some real good opportunities to go after Obama and call him out on several, if not all, of the discrepancies in his statements.

Instead, Romney seemed to give Obama credibility when he mentioned he agreed with some of Obama’s foreign policy reasoning. I thought that he might have come across as soft and should have been more assertive in getting out the facts; however, as the debate advanced, it was clear that Romney knew what he was doing.

It was not foreign policy that was being judged in this debate, it was the character of the men as well as their conduct. This debate was revealing for both the American people and the world.

When Obama was running in 2008, he won the election based on popularity. Obama was the first black candidate to be nominated. He was likeable and cool, and many fell for the facade that the media created around him.

If the last four years did not convince you that he was not who they portrayed him to be, then this debate should have opened your eyes. Obama, instead of being commander-in-chief, came across as a spoiled child who did not get his way.

Obama did not thank the moderator or the university that housed the debate, which is always done before answering the first question. Romney did. Obama went into full-blown attack mode and continued with this tactic throughout the debate.

All throughout the debate Obama had a disturbing sneer and a condescending demeanor that was unbecoming of a president. His childish antics did not shake Romney. Romney remained calm, answered the questions and challenged Obama on the false facts he was spewing. Romney looked more presidential than Obama.

Obama would not give equal time to Romney; he rudely interrupted and talked over Romney. He was acting like a bully. It was embarrassing to see the President whine because he didn’t like the truth.

Some of the condescending quotes by Obama included the one in which he stated, “I think Governor Romney maybe hasn’t spent enough time looking at how our military works. You mentioned the Navy, for example, and that we have fewer ships than we did in 1916. Well, Governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets, because the nature of our military’s changed. We have these things called aircraft carriers, where planes land on them. We have these ships that go underwater, nuclear submarines.”

Despite Obama’s attempt to silence Romney and make him look incompetent, Romney was able to score major points by highlighting some very disturbing comments Obama made during his presidency.

“The President began what I have called an apology tour, of going to various nations in the Middle East and criticizing America. I think they looked at that and saw weakness,’ Romney said. “Then when there were dissidents in the streets of Tehran, a Green Revolution, holding signs saying ‘is America with us,’ the President was silent. I think they noticed that as well. And I think that when the president said he was going to create daylight between ourselves and Israel that they noticed that as well.”

This was an important statement for Romney in that he was able to bring to light Obama’s ignorance in foreign affairs.

Stephen Dinan of the Washington Times wrote that, “Mitt Romney crossed a major threshold early this week, briefly moving above 50 percent in his favorability rating, according to the Real Clear Politics average of polls — giving the Republican a lead over President Obama for the first time on that measure.”

What got Obama elected was the popular vote; he was the “American Idol” president. He had “likeability.” No matter what he did or said, people would say, “He’s a nice guy.” After this debate, many are stunned.

The debates were a testament to each candidate’s character, values, experience, professionalism and vision for the future. Nov. 6, is just around the corner and we can not allow Obama another four years. We need a strong leader in these dismal dangerous times not an immature, arrogant, man-child. We need Mitt Romney.