Despite flash polls that found President Obama won the last two of three presidential debates on points, the public gave Mitt Romney the victory overall, probably because Romney dominated the first and most-watched clash.

Rasmussen Reports on Thursday said that 1,000 likely voters he polled said Romney beat Obama, 49 percent to 41 percent, a reversal of 2008 when Obama won over Sen. John McCain, 47 percent to 33 percent. Those interviewed said that Romney explained his positions more clearly than the president.