The expectations game that has been going on before tonight’s presidential debate between
President Obama, at his best, is one of the most eloquent speakers ever to take up the big chair in the Oval Office. He may not be a stellar debater, but he held his own with
For his part, Mitt Romney has a long debating history, starting with his failed
Despite their strong credentials, both the candidates and their surrogates have been trying to drive down expectations. Romney’s running mate,
In reality, both men can be expected to handily respond to any questions that are thrown at them. But it is not their words that count as much as the image they project on TV. We know that
So, what will it be this time? Will a sarcastic Obama smirk betray too much arrogance? Will a nervous Romney shuffle combined with a couple of awkward eye blinks come off as befuddlement? Will the expectations game before the debate and the spin room analysis afterward prove as important as whatever the candidates do on stage? We will see.
The pressure is on. One errant sigh, one drop of sweat, one garbled thought have sunk candidacies in past debates. In truth, it is that single killer mistake we will all be watching for as the debates begin.
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