By: Jeffrey Klein
Political Buzz Examiner

President Barack Obama thought that his next, and last, public ‘debate,’ against his rapidly rising Republican challenger, Gov. Mitt Romney, wouldn’t be until the third and final presidential debate on ‘Foreign Policy’ this coming Monday evening in Boca Raton, Florida.

However, last evening, both men shared the dais, while attending the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, a charity to benefit needy children, organized by the Catholic Archdiocese of New York, and held at the toney Waldorf Astoria Hotel, according to a FOXNews article this morning.

The event, which is typically ‘apolitical,’ is attended by leaders in the church, private sector, government, network and cable news, as well as wealthy philanthropists and socialites. As such, it has also always been considered to be an key stage on the campaign trail for all presidential candidates–creating a no option obligation for both.

Video: Gov. Mitt Romney ‘roasts’ President Obama at Alfred E. Smith Dinner 10-18-12

President Obama attended the event quite obviously ‘Michelle-less,’ and sat uneasily, nearest the podium, even though his pals, former NBC and CBS News Anchor Katie Couric, and MSNBC ‘Hard Ball’ host Chris Matthews were seated just behind him.

Clearly, and intentionally, separating Barack Obama from the beaming and confident Mitt and Ann Romney, was the host for the evening, and prime litigant against the Obamacare contraception mandate, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of New York.

Near the end of dinner on the dais, the truly entertaining segment of the evening got underway.

Up first was Gov. Romney, whose brilliant and endearing comedic performance brought the house down with laughter and applause–almost entirely at the expense of the president, as if it were ‘Presidential Debate 2(b).’

During his opening acknowledgements, Gov. Romney personally thanked ‘Al and Ann Smith’ for the invitation, saying that ‘Ann and I appreciate your friendship;’ a claim that Barack Obama could not make for equivalency–which no doubt placed him on an uncustomary ‘underclass’ position, to his very presidential looking, and sounding, challenger.

Although watching the video is the only way to truly appreciate the advantage that Gov. Romney enjoyed with the crowd’s reaction, over President Obama–who turned in what seemed like a ‘death warmed-up,’ me too performance.

Here are several of the most memorable, or scathing, lines, beginning with Romney:

The President’s remarks are brought to you by the letter O and the number 16 trillion.

I’ve already seen early reports from tonight’s dinner. Headline: Obama embraced by Catholics, Romney dines with rich people.

People seem to be very curious about how to prepare [for the debates]. First, refrain from alcohol for 65 years; then, get the biggest straw man and mercilessly attack it–‘Big Bird’ didn’t even see it coming.

I was hoping the president would bring Joe Biden–because Joe will laugh at anything.

And Obama graced the audience with these nuggets:

I particularly want to apologize to Chris Matthews. Four years ago gave him a thrill up his leg, this time I gave him a stroke.

I learned there are worse things that can happen to you on your anniversary than forgetting to buy a gift.

Finally, my personal favorite from Obama was the thinly veiled expression of envy:

Earlier today I went shopping at some stores in Midtown … I understand Governor Romney went shopping for some stores in Midtown.

Good fun was had by everyone but Barack Obama last night, and things are going to really deteriorate on Monday night during the debate, as a result of documents on the way to Congress from two government officials.

Reportedly, the CIA Station Chief in Libya sent a cable to Washington, D.C., within 24 hours of the attack on the U.S. Consulate at Benghazi, indicating that there was evidence it was carried out by militants–not a spontaneous mob upset about an American-made video ridiculing Islam’s Prophet Muhammad, according to Kimberly Dozier’s Associated Press article today.

This time, even Bob Schieffer, CBS News veteran debate moderator, won’t be able to save President Barack Obama, from what is forming up to be quite the ‘cover up.’

Isn’t it ironic, when that which was intended to save his presidential bid, is now blowing it up, according to Romney’s now seven-point and rising lead in national polls.