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What To Watch For In Presidential Debate

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President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney campaigning in September, they'll meet Wednesday in the first presidential debate. (AP)
President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney campaigning in September, they'll meet Wednesday in the first presidential debate. (AP)

Wednesday in Denver, Mitt Romney and Barack Obama square off for their first of three face to face match-ups.

We started the week noting the conventional wisdom that debates don't win presidencies. But today we're reading a James Fallows article in The Atlantic about debate moments that did win presidencies.

With polls showing President Obama in the lead, Politico's Glenn Thrush writes there are five things to watch for tonight that could change the arc of the presidential race:

  • Can Romney win the first half-hour?
  • How hard will Obama attack?
  • How do awkward past statements about the 47 percent and Libya play?
  • Is Obama ready for prime time after four years in the presidential echo chamber?
  • Who will bring up Bill Clinton first, to claim his mantle and try to win his white working- and middle-class supporters?

Guest:

  • Glenn Thrush, senior White House reporter for Politico

This segment aired on October 3, 2012.

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