Romney's final debate body language begs us to like him

By Jo Piazza / current.com / @jopiazza

The third and final presidential debate had none of the warrior movements or the sniffing and circling of the first two debates between President Barack Obama and former Gov. Mitt Romney.

For this bout, the two men were mostly seated in front of moderator Bob Schieffer while they verbally duked it out on foreign policy. The GOP nominee may not have been as strong as the president on international issues, but if you dialed down the sound on your television he sure came off as warm and likable.

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“Romney was so strong on charm and likability for the first 30 minutes. He smiled through most of the debate. The lingering impression is that Romney will be a happy president,” body language expert Patti Wood, the author of “SNAP: Making the Most of First Impressions Body Language and Charisma” explained.

“The first impression of Obama was that he was sober and serious. Obama often looks disgusted, with a wrinkled nose and pursed out sour lips. Obama does this frequently when Romney is talking.”

Once it came time to talk about specifics, Romney’s body language began to let him down as surely as a horse and a bayonet would let a soldier down in a drone fight.

“He loses power and confidence when he talks about specifics on military action. He had weak delivery and a soft voice when talking about the military,” Wood said.

“Obama smirked at Romney’s plan. His smile, with his lips turned down at the edges, showed his extreme dislike of Romney. His brows were down. He was in attack mode.”

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The GOP nominee’s response to the president was no more kind.

“Romney voice and manner towards Obama were haughty. Romney is acting like Obama is an irritating buzzing fly that he just needs to bat away from his food,” Wood said.

"As he mentions funding the military, Romney does a tongue thrust combined with tongue cleanse and an eye roll gesture that indicate he is conflicted. He is saying one thing but he does not really know what it means,” Wood explained.

When the president gave his closing remarks he told America that they now have a choice to make. At that moment he made an especially revealing body language cue.

“Obama did a tongue cleansing cue that showed he might not like the way we choose,” Wood said.

Obama was the first to rise from the debate table He pulled on his jacket in what Wood describes as a comfort cue.

“It was a block of his vulnerable pelvis. It showed he felt his manhood was attacked,” Wood said.

(Photo from Getty Images)