Widely considered to be the loser of Wednesday night's debate, President Obama is attacking Mitt Romney with a new intensity. He may need to. The Republican's strong performance is boosting confidence that he can turn around his lackluster campaign. YNN's Josh Robin has the story.

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UNITED STATES -- His supporters may ask where was this fired-up Obama Wednesday night?

"I refuse to ask students to pay more for college or take children out of Head Start programs or eliminate health insurance for Americans to pay for a tax cut that we can't afford," President Obama said.

Wednesday, Obama is said to have been wary of descending into an unpresidential back and forth. To many, he seemed distracted and flat, with long and ineffective answers to Mitt Romney's attacks.

After meeting with advisors, Obama shifted. He would answer and then some what he sees as his opponent's biggest whoppers.

Obama said, "Governor Romney may dance around his positions. He may do a tap dance and a two-step, but if you want to be president, then you owe the American people the truth."

Romney has a different take on the evening.

"Last night, I thought, was a great opportunity for the American people to see two very different visions for the country," Romney said.

He replayed a line from Wednesday's match.

"I think it was helpful to be able to describe those visions. I saw the president's vision as trickle down government and I don't think that is what America believes in," Romney said.

It's unknown whether Romney's performance helped him pick up support among voters. Real polls won't be out for a couple of days.

What is clear, though, is that he calmed down his donors. And that he bought himself some time for Americans to take another look at his campaign.

"It's very clear that Romney did enough to impress commentators and that may be important. The question is did he do enough to impress swing voters," said David Birdsell of Baruch College.

Big Bird may be dominating the water cooler chatter, though. Romney says he'd slash PBS’ modest subsidy, singling out everyone's favorite feathered friend. It lit up Twitter and triggered a new Obama zinger.

"I just want to make sure I got this straight. He'll get rid of regulations on Wall Street, but he's gonna crack down on Sesame Street," Obama said.