Rather Outspoken News

From Dan: What Obama Needs to do in Tonight's Debate
posted on October 03, 2012 by Dan

From Dan: In tonight’s debate President Obama needs to:
--Explain how and why a new term would be different from this term.
--Not be defensive or passive in the face of attacks.
--Refrain from filibustering, as he sometimes tends to do. The debate is not a university seminar.
--Avoid appearing irritated or touchy about a tough question (which on at least a few occasions he has appeared to be.)

Obama is perceived by some independent and swing voters as trying to be too "cool," too "disengaged," too insular and perhaps at least a touch too overconfident. The debate is an opportunity for him to be seen differently among those who have that view.

Note: Underdogs and challengers tend to be graded higher - more often declared "winners" - than incumbents..at least in first debates (there'll be three this time.) Should Romney get through this first one with no gaffes, no major mistakes and appear to be giving a fresh tone to his campaign with his performance he may well be deemed the "winner" by pundits in the first few waves of coverage. What the public thinks may be different, but what the public thinks won't become apparent until a day or two later.