RHINELANDER - After Wednesday night's presidential debate both political parties took away positives and negatives for each side.

The first debate of the 2012 election is now behind us and voters, along with political parties gathered a lot of information.

Andy Loduha of the Oneida County Republican Party says, "I think what you saw last night was a successful business executive, Mitt Romney, talking about things he knows and understands. Versus Barack Obama, a law school professor talking about things that he memorized. Mitt Romney clearly understood the things he was talking about."

Jean Roach of the Oneida County Democratic Partys responds, "Romney's vision is one in which the private sector dominates the economy and dominates all facets of our lives. The other vision is Obama's vision is a more balanced one which the private sector has a very important role to play, but the public sector, that is government, also has a very important role to play."

Some look at the debate as a win for Romney, while others say the debate means more than that, Roach says, "It was not about winners and losers. Politics is a very serious issue and I think, probably, most Americans sat down to see what do the two candidates stand for. What's their vision for America?"

Loduha says, "I think on their side they were clearly disappointed and saw how poorly their candidate, Obama, performed when he's up against someone like Romney who's learned from experience and life lessons and business experience and success. Obama's never been in a verbal fight like he was last night."

Either way you look at it, both parties are focused ahead and already preparing for October 16th at the second debate, Loduha says, "On the Obama side they were saying the president is going to bring his "A" game next time. I think Mitt Romney's going to improve his game even more than what he did too. So I think these debates are going to continue to be very colorful, very spirited."

Roach looks forward to it, "I anticipate a very similar kind of debate. I think that it was a civilized exchange between the two men and I think the American people will once again get a window into the important issues in front of the American public."

The next debate is in New York and will be a town meeting format focusing on foreign and domestic policy.

Story By: Michael Crusan