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[Lord Shonus]

I'm really surprised people are putting this much thought into the presidential campaign still. The big deal is the congress. Anyone who's played Liberal Crime Squad should know that the president will only matter once you've got an Elite Liberal congress to put bills on his desk... and, I suppose, for when you're looking to replace the Supreme Court.

Who wins the presidential race isn't as important as the margin of victory, especially since that same margin is likely to be reflected in House elections. A narrow victory puts a huge brake on the winner's agenda (because so much of the country clearly rejects it, Congress is going to step a lot lighter), while a larger one encourages it. A landslide outcome, especially in a race where so much investment has been poured into the campaign of one side, can leave a permanent mark on the body politic, or even collapse a party.

[mainiac]

He's going to get destroyed, me thinks.

I doubt it.  Romney's screw ups happen when people push him, demand the details behind the platitudes.  The debate will not offer a venue for that to happen.  Romney just has to spend 90 minutes repeating conservative stock answers (taxes!  national debt! defense spending cuts!) and he will avoid any moments of weakness.

What works in Obama's favor is that lately Romney has had really really bad optics.  Obama will probably manage to make some pretty effective ad hominem attacks without making them look like ad hominem attacks.

I expect this debate will be quite boring.  Of course Romney's campaign probably thinks he needs to win big in order to turn the race around so maybe Romney will swing for the fences?  But I have trouble seeing exactly how he would plan to shake this debate up.  Obama is in more of a position to shake this debate up but I doubt he will want to do that tomorrow.  Tomorrow a narrow defeat for Obama is a tactical loss but a strategic win.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

I think he's doomed. He'll probably make some horrible gaffe about how everyone but the rich are freeloading parasites while we simultaneously get shocking video evidence that Paul Ryan Is Completely Heterosexual.

[nenjin]

I doubt it.  Romney's screw ups happen when people push him, demand the details behind the platitudes.  The debate will not offer a venue for that to happen.  Romney just has to spend 90 minutes repeating conservative stock answers (taxes!  national debt! defense spending cuts!) and he will avoid any moments of weakness.

We been watching the same gaffs? I've seen him choke when he tries to wing it, when he tries to say something relaxed and casual or folksy. And this is while he's just stumping.

Yes, the parties always have talking points but he's not, despite popular opinion, a robot. He's going to have to be flexible and to me that's something he's never been good at, being verbally agile. He has a problem with appearing awkward while speaking and that's something Obama, like you said, can go after without making it an outright attack. Or he'll make Romney look that much worse just by comparison, because he has composure and shows grace under fire (for the most part). I think Romney only demonstrates that when he's in control of the setting, or in control of the people he's talking at.

So yeah. I predict a lot of awkwardness from Romney that's going to just hang out there. It's the kind of thing Obama doesn't even have to attack, he just needs to stand back and watch Romney continue to get more agitated by himself. The debates aren't really about the issues, as we know as Americans. It's a televised personality contest and I feel like that's one place, barring everything else, that Romney has consistently under-delivered.

[kaenneth]

I prefer my candidates to be able to pass a Turing test.

[Descan]

Plus, Obama is kind of famous for being a good orator.

It's like filet Mignon vs road kill. >_>

[mainiac]

A good orator does not mean he will do well in the very structured, very abnormal format of these debates.

[SalmonGod]

If only Romney were actually involved in this video.  It might have helped him.

[MaximumZero]

An older quote from Todd Akin, recently come to light: abortion clinics are performing abortions on women who are not actually pregnant.

*insert jackie-chan-wtf.gif*

[penguinofhonor]

I believe the presidential debate is in 45 minutes.

[Aqizzar]

First ever post from my new smartphone.  Damn I am a wordy sumbitch on this tiny screen.

Now watch the goddamn debate.

[mainiac]

I got a text at 8:45 saying that Romney had won the debate from RomneyWins70ObamaLosses.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

First ever post from my new smartphone.  Damn I am a wordy sumbitch on this tiny screen.

It has happened Aqizzar. You have become the Hipsterman.

Now watch the goddamn debate.

MAKE ME

[Wrex]

It's the bad grammar that really sells it.

[GlyphGryph]

Commentator just said he's pretty sure Romney is gonna take it. Let's see

Admittedly he has a very... broad view of "victory".