TheBlaze already told you about the loud thud that interrupted the U.S. presidential debate on Thursday evening. The unidentified noise was so pronounced that it caused President Barack Obama to turn around to see where it was coming from. This morning, we began making calls to determine the origins of the mysterious ”thud.”
In a phone conversation with TheBlaze, Allan Wilson, a staff member with the University of Denver facilities management, said that the sound likely resulted from an error with the debate’s staging.

Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. President Barack Obama (R) greets Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (L) Credit: Getty Images
“I wasn’t back stage,” Wilson said. “But it’s been reported that a piece of staging fell from behind the stage.”
Wilson forwarded TheBlaze to the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), the governing body for the presidential debates and the organization that would be able to provide more details about what unfolded. We have reached out to the commission and will post their response as soon as it is received.
As reported, the show-stopping sound occurred last night around 10:07 p.m. ET, briefly interrupting the debate. The “thud” seemed to come from behind the stage, where the candidates were jockeying back and forth on domestic issues.
The brief moment of uncertainty did little to dissuade Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who was speaking at the time. For a split-second, he acknowledged that he heard the noise, then promptly continued speaking.
Watch below and listen for the bizarre noise — and the candidates’ reaction, below:





















































































































Comments (150)
rdk
Oct. 4, 2012 at 1:06pmIt was Axlerod hitting the floor after fainting.
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dblaess
Oct. 4, 2012 at 1:14pmIt was Axlerod and DWS both hitting the floor.
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Gold Coin & Economic News
Oct. 4, 2012 at 1:15pmIt was Obama’s poll numbers dropping through the Earth. Here’s why Obama lost the debate last night:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLhzOPxcJNc
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GIRTHMAN
Oct. 4, 2012 at 1:50pmFunny !!!
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Shaqfuey
Oct. 4, 2012 at 2:04pmThat made me laugh – funny stuff.
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KickinBack
Oct. 4, 2012 at 2:29pmIt was Gary Johnson practicing his crowd surfing…And failed miserably.
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Copper Catfish
Oct. 4, 2012 at 2:37pmIt was DWS hitting Axelrod!
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seriouslywhy
Oct. 4, 2012 at 3:06pmLOL! Excellent answer! definitely a stage element of some sort falling.
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McNamara
Oct. 4, 2012 at 3:47pmIt was U-Haul dropping off a load of moving boxes for the Obama’s. Time to start packing.
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The-Monk
Oct. 4, 2012 at 4:21pmI’m pretty sure it was Valerie Jarret punching a wall…….
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Ivey123
Oct. 4, 2012 at 4:38pmIt was TEAM OBAMA trying to get the TELEPROMPTER out !!!!
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Mil Mom
Oct. 4, 2012 at 5:11pmIt was the notsoalmighty barack obama falling off his pedestal.
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midwesthippie
Oct. 4, 2012 at 6:02pmit was axelrod, vasserman-schultz, plouf, and dean all taking a collective cr@p in their pants while standing on a riser together and the weight was just too much…thud!
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BuzzardSays
Oct. 4, 2012 at 6:04pmAcronym for BHO candidacy falling on difficult times.
The Hoodwinked Unthinking Democrats (THUD) hitting the floor. As BHO proved to the world that he really is not up to the task of being their messiah. OMG they said as they collectively slapped their foreheads and fell to the floor creating the aforementioned thunderous sound.
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HillBillySam1
Oct. 4, 2012 at 6:17pmIt was obviously Chrissy “Tingles” Mathews swooning behind the stage. The fact that he was told that even with the make-up, evening gown and high-heel shoes, President Obama was NOT going to give him a shout-out proclaiming his undying love and affection like he did Michelle. A man can only take so much………
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RebelPatriot
Oct. 4, 2012 at 6:49pmThe Imposter in Chief was exposed as the paper doll that the progressive left has fronted in order to bring about the demise of the United States.
I hope the 10% of the undecided tune in for the rest of the debates. It should be simple to make a decision on who you want leading this nation.
An idiological dreamer fronting for the progressive socialist agenda, or an American who knows we are at our best when we have freedom to prosper.
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dmerwin
Oct. 4, 2012 at 6:54pmRDK
Exactly.
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Ray2447
Oct. 4, 2012 at 7:23pmCould it have been MSNBC pundits doing back flips, warming up for all the spin they’d be putting on Obama’s performance?
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pschlentz
Oct. 4, 2012 at 8:49pmIt was the hidden door on the Trojan Horse falling open before he got it thru the castle gates! Thank God!!
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SUNTZU
Oct. 4, 2012 at 9:44pmChris Matthews crapping his pants
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ObamaForward_OverTheCliff
Oct. 4, 2012 at 11:56pm“A Campus Staffer Explains What They Think That Mysterious Debate ‘Thud’ Was”
Actually, remember that “thrill up the leg for Obama” propagandist-Media guy? Well, that guy didn’t have something go up his leg. Rather, something went down his leg …
[note new White House advert: "Obama -- The Proven Laxative For America!"]
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yiddishlion
Oct. 5, 2012 at 1:27amIt was Obama’s poll numbers hitting rock bottom.
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4xeverything
Oct. 5, 2012 at 7:21amIt was Elizabeth Warren’s grandfather shooting “Indians crazy with drink”.
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EduardoJRivera
Oct. 4, 2012 at 1:03pmThe teleprompter guy got shot because he couldn’t fix it on time for the debate. That’s how Obama’s staff is shown that persuasion comes from the barrel of a gun (just paraphrasing Mao).
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pschlentz
Oct. 4, 2012 at 8:46pmThat was Obummer falling off his High (and almighty) Horse!
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MiCurmudgeon
Oct. 4, 2012 at 12:56pmThe weirdest sounds I heard were out of Obama’s mouth when he tried to explain away 3.5 years of failures.
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Female
Oct. 4, 2012 at 1:06pmWhat only 3.5 years of failure?
Let me see…he got in Jan 20something today is Oct 4….My math starting at the messed-up oath is 3.75+ years!
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762x51
Oct. 4, 2012 at 4:43pmBut to be fair, you have to knock off one day for killing bin laden, maybe another for killing the Somali pirates, his two biggest successes. So 3.74 years of failure.
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amtsoundsmith
Oct. 4, 2012 at 11:40pm762X51- It was the Navy SEALs that did that!
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Mattsbay18
Oct. 4, 2012 at 12:55pmMy favorite theory, Debbie Wasserman Schultz crapping a brick
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DesdemonasCrew
Oct. 4, 2012 at 12:57pmGreat Line!
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702TruthSeeker
Oct. 4, 2012 at 1:02pmit was george soros backstage punching the wall because he realized all the money he spent was wasted and the new world order was a stupid idea
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RJJinGadsden
Oct. 4, 2012 at 1:05pmMATTSBAY18, Most feasible answer yet.
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jgarzacpa
Oct. 4, 2012 at 1:17pmBest line of the Debate was by MattsBay18. That mysterious thud during the debate was Debbie Wasserman Schultz “Crapping a Brick”
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Conservitive Ticker
Oct. 4, 2012 at 7:14pmI thought they were Pelosi’s brass kegel balls.
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whatzzhername
Oct. 4, 2012 at 12:53pmI thought it was Axelrod throwing furniture around along with his f-bombs. What were they trying to do, drop a piece of ceiling on to Romney to bailout O from the beatings he was getting and it fell too far back? Behind the stage??
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kickagrandma
Oct. 4, 2012 at 12:49pmObviously, it was an attempt to get Romney off track.
Sounded to me like a tennis ball being whacked.
O’s brain cell fell out?????
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eramthgin
Oct. 4, 2012 at 12:48pmIt was the sound of the bottom dropping out of Obama’s campaign.
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PontiusPirate
Oct. 4, 2012 at 12:48pmThought provoking, hard-hitting journalism right here.
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13th Imam
Oct. 4, 2012 at 1:01pmThanks for your concise ,thought provoking comment. You must be beaming with pride for how the smartest man in the world (BARRY) acted last night. THUD.
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BLUDOG_3
Oct. 4, 2012 at 12:45pmI thought it was George Soros trying to prompt Obama to wake up!
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IMCHRISTIAN
Oct. 4, 2012 at 12:44pmI thought maybe it was John Kerry.
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MiloArk
Oct. 4, 2012 at 7:12pmNaw, Obama’s empty chair collapsed.
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OllieK
Oct. 4, 2012 at 12:44pmThat was the unmistakable sound of Obama’s expectations for reelection.
Stick a fork in it, O!
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Secret Squirrel
Oct. 4, 2012 at 12:43pm1. The other shoe dropping.
2. Obama handlers passing out.
3. David Axelrod whacking John Kerry.
4. Unpacking the teleprompter. Just in case.
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Conservitive Ticker
Oct. 4, 2012 at 7:16pm5. Wasserman Dropped her Brass Kegel Balls.
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Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Oct. 4, 2012 at 12:43pmThe noise was reality and facts hitting the Obama staff in the face, which caused them to faint. The final thud was the Sh@t hitting the fan.
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bald stick
Oct. 4, 2012 at 12:42pmI think Moochelle dropped Obamas manhood. We know he didn’t have it
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bald stick
Oct. 4, 2012 at 12:50pmCouldn’t have been that, would have been a much smaller sound. Sorry for not thinking that first post through.
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McNamara
Oct. 4, 2012 at 4:05pmOutstanding!! LMAO!
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Mil Mom
Oct. 4, 2012 at 7:31pm@bald stick
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 12:42pm
I think Moochelle dropped Obamas manhood. We know he didn’t have it
***
Maybe it was hillary desperately trying to pry open her lock-box and let b o actually do something on his own! Instead it skidded off the table and with all the _____s of Washington politicians inside it made a big thud. (Hats off to Rush here.)
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MadenNZ
Oct. 4, 2012 at 12:42pmThe Fives’ Greg Gutfelds tweet when it happened | http://favstar.fm/t/253677711778799617
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Major_Skidmark
Oct. 4, 2012 at 12:42pmI was Michelle Obama fainting when she realized she will lose the use of AF1!
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sta
Oct. 4, 2012 at 12:41pmIt was Obama’s ego hitting the ground.
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OllieK
Oct. 4, 2012 at 12:41pmThat was the unmistakable sound of Obama’s expectations for reelection. Stick a fork in it O.
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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Oct. 4, 2012 at 12:40pmA peace of the staging falls down – like the telepromptor and the Seal of the POTUS so many times before with Obamas presentations? Maybe Obama should listen to the message being given?
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TheComic
Oct. 4, 2012 at 12:39pmWhat? The other shoe falling?
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StandUnited2Win
Oct. 4, 2012 at 12:39pmIt was Joe Biden falling down. He passed from thinking about being out of a job!
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SunTzuYou
Oct. 4, 2012 at 12:39pmCould be annoying debate trick to distract speaker, personally experienced this before, a technique by competitors where the ends justify the means, improperly executed. If they were competent the sound would not have been picked up by the microphone. just saying. Probably nothing. Host should have apologized for the distraction, O’s reaction was interesting.
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Coredestroy
Oct. 4, 2012 at 12:39pmIt was the sound of reality hitting Obama. Or the sound of the S*** hitting the fan when he questioned Romney’s plans.
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Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Oct. 4, 2012 at 12:44pmSorry, I think we were thinking the same thing, unfortunetly, the posts didn’t come up until after I posted. I guess great minds think alike.
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lifelibertyandthepursuitofhappiness
Oct. 4, 2012 at 10:49pmno it was obamas brain fallin outta his ***** and hitting the floor
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RIGS
Oct. 4, 2012 at 12:38pmMaybe it was a liberal knuckle heads falling off and hitting the floor.
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BurntHills
Oct. 4, 2012 at 12:35pm100% AMERICAN presidential Romney showed no alarm, but obama looked towards it like he was guilty as Hell. everyone here laughed.
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Tractorboy
Oct. 4, 2012 at 7:34pmBURTHILLS…Looked like Obama was ready to run for it. Why so nervous Barack? I’m sure Obama’s poor performance won’t displease any of his wealthy supporters, the unions, Soros and the likes.
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