Sam Donaldson: 'If Obama Comes to the Next Two Debates With the Same Demeanor He's Losing'

Sam Donaldson had some harsh words this weekend for President Obama's performance at Wednesday's debate.

Appearing on the syndicated Chris Matthews Show, the former ABC White House correspondent said, "If he comes to the next two debates with the same demeanor, with the same passive resistance, he’s losing" (video follows with transcript and commentary):

CHRIS MATTHEWS, HOST: Sam, huge impact of that debate Wednesday night?

SAM DONALDSON: Big. Think John Kennedy in 1960, think Ronald Reagan in 1980. It's possibly that big because the president seemed to be on a glide path toward re-election, and all of a sudden here comes the raging bull, Mitt Romney, out of the dock, and the toreador runs for the safety exits instead of counterpunching, instead of getting him hard. What happened to Barack Obama? I'm not certain. I don't know. But I know this: if he comes to the next two debates with the same demeanor, with the same passive resistance, he’s losing.

MATTHEWS: Wow!

Wow indeed.