As the American presidential election tightens in its final month, the series of debates between the contenders is now underway. In the first round, it was Republican hopeful Mitt Romney who came out on top of sitting President Obama who appeared uncharacteristically lacking of his signature poise. On the broad issue of domestic policy, Romney appeared to have Obama beat when it came to fiscal know-how. This triumph lead to the former Massachusetts governor surging in the polls after weeks of trailing an incumbent whose economic record is, by any measure, less than stellar. This has not put Romney ahead nationally however as Obama has kept his lead in important battleground states.