put on the defensive
最初のTV討論会が行われました。事前の調査ではオバマ候補有利ということでしたが、経済再生をめぐるやりとりではオバマ候補は劣勢に回ることがあり、ロムニー候補が有権者に強い印象を残しました。TV討論、畏るべし！デス。
be put on the defensiveは文字通り、「守りに回る、劣勢に回る」です。（Koyamamoto）
Obama and Romney hold first TV debate
US President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney focused on economic issues in their first TV debate ahead of next month's presidential election.
The rivals shared the stage in Denver, Colorado on Wednesday. Obama, who is seeking reelection, stressed how he helped the US economy overcome the financial crisis 4 years ago. He said he aims to boost the economy by helping the middle class, rather than by cutting taxes for the rich as Romney suggests.
Romney argued that Obama's policies have failed. He said more government spending, more taxes and more regulations are not the right answer for America. Obama was put on the defensive, and often hesitated for words in the face of his opponent's verbal attack. Romney has been struggling to catch up to Obama in the polls. It remains to be seen whether the debate could become a turning point for Romney.
