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SALT LAKE CITY — The presidential race is slowly drawing to a close after more than a year of campaigning for the White House. On Wednesday, President Barack Obama and Republican opponent Mitt Romney will get their first opportunity to debate each other in the battleground state of Colorado.
Over the past few weeks, both candidates have attempted to fine tune their message in an attempt to appeal to voters. President Obama has enlisted the help of former presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry, while Romney has utilized Ohio Sen. Rob Portman.
"After the hour-and-a-half or so is over, I want to kick him out of the room he's so good," Romney said of Portman last week at a campaign stop in Ohio.
And while preparation can only get the candidates so far, it is nothing like the real thing. For both candidates, the upcoming three debates could make or break a so far close presidential race. However, the stakes may be a bit higher for Romney who has taken a dip in the polls since his remarks about 47 percent of Americans were brought to light.
Neither candidate is expected to be a clear favorite heading into the debate, with each having to overcome their so-called weaknesses. Romney has struggled with one-liners and quick responses in previous debates, and appears more like he's reciting a pre-prepared script. Obama, on the other hand, hasn't been in a debate-like setting for four years and prefers big addresses instead of debates.
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"I think both candidates have substantial experience at debates, so the odds are they wrestle each other to a more or less standoff in the debates," said Quin Monson, director of BYU's Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy. "Neither of them are so skilled in debating or so bad at debating that you would expect an easy victory."
Mitt Romney:
Romney has worked tirelessly on a debate strategy, spending hours studying briefing books, reviewing President Obama's platform and sparring with Sen. Portman in debate-like settings.
While Romney traditionally sticks to his message in debates, sparring in approximately 13 debates during the primary season, he struggles with quick responses and attacks.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich told Politico: "When (Romney's) prepared and he understand the facts and the message he wants to deliver, he can be very formidable, he can be aggressive and he can stick to his guns. If he has to suddenly start conjuring things up that were a surprise or an angle he was not ready for, he's not really as strong."
I think both candidates have substantial experience at debates, so the odds are they wrestle each other to a more or less standoff in the debates.
–Quin Monson
Romney has the difficult task of attacking President Obama while trying to appear likable. Recent polling data in battleground states indicate Romney has a ways to go to combat President Obama's strong lead. But New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said he isn't worried.
"I've seen Mitt Romney do this before. He's going to come in Wednesday night and lay out his vision for America. He's going to contrast what his view is with the president's record is and the president's view for the future. And this whole race is going to be turned upside down come Thursday morning," Gov. Christie said to CBS's Bob Schieffer on Face The Nation. "It is a whole different deal. What he's going to be doing on Wednesday night is not going to be filtered by anybody. It's not going to be spun by anybody or filtered by anybody."
While no "gotcha" moments are expected in the debate, the Romney campaign is looking to deliver a message about "Obama's failed policies" on the economy and to get President Obama off his message.
"The challenge that I'll have in the debate is that the president tends to, how shall I say it, to say things that aren't true," Romney previously told ABC News. "I've looked at prior debates. And in that kind of case, it's difficult to say, ‘Well, am I going to spend my time correcting things that aren't quite accurate? Or am I going to spend my time talking about the things I want to talk about?' "
President Barack Obama:
While seen as a reasonable, articulate and down-to-earth candidate, President Obama has to do something to tell voters his plan will fix the economy — a counter argument, and major talking point for the Romney campaign. President Obama promised the American people that if the economy was not better in his first term as president, he didn't deserve another term. Now, he must show how the economy is better.
It is almost guaranteed Romney will attack President Obama on the economy, but Obama must draw a fine line between being the aggressor and sounding presidential. In 2008, then-candidate Obama appeared condescending when he told Hillary Clinton, "You're likable enough, Hillary." The remark was believed to be one of the leading factors that led to Obama losing the primary contest in New Hampshire.
When he was leading, he viewed the process as an unnecessary exercise that could get him off track.
–Phil Singer
And while Romney has had more than a year to tweak his debate strategy, participating in several primary debates, President Obama has not participated in a debate in four years. Additionally, campaign aides say Obama hasn't had a lot of time to prepare for the debates.
"He has had less time to prepare than we anticipated," campaign spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki told the Associated Press. "It's difficult to schedule significant blocks of time when you're the president."
Former Hillary Clinton aide Phil Singer said Obama looked at the debates in 2008 as an unnecessary part of the campaign that could hurt him more than help.
"When he was leading, he viewed the process as an unnecessary exercise that could get him off track," Singer told Politico. "He's in a similar place at this point in the race. Romney needs him to trip — not just a little stumble but something really big. The president is very well-equipped to avoid doing that, thanks to living in the fish bowl 24/7 for the last four years."
President Obama currently leads in national and battleground state polls, but a poor debate could close the gap between Obama and Romney. Many campaign aides and observers contend President Obama's biggest opponent in these debates is not Romney, but himself.
