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Before Debate, Tough Crowds at the Practice
The New York Tiimes ^ | Friday, September 28, 2012 | Peter Baker and Ashley Parker

Posted on 09/29/2012 11:22:19 AM PDT by kristinn

In a conference room at the Democratic headquarters, President Obama has been preparing for the debate next week, but the reviews of his staff are already in. Too long, they tell him. Cut that answer. Give crisper explanations. No one wants a professor; they want a president.

Hundreds of miles away in New England, Mitt Romney’s team has been working to make sure he avoids coming off as a scold. His sparring partner, Senator Rob Portman of Ohio, channeling Mr. Obama, has gone after him repeatedly, to the point of being nasty. The goal is to get Mr. Romney agitated and then teach him how to keep his composure, look presidential.

With more than 50 million people watching and the presidency at stake, the candidates will meet for their first debate on Wednesday at the University of Denver, and both are cramming like college students before an exam. But it is not enough to pore through the voluminous briefing books. Victory may come down to a single exchange, or a single impression, an answer that comes off as too edgy or, conversely, as too long-winded.

Mr. Obama’s team records his practices to sharpen his responses so that they connect on a more visceral level with the television audience. One of Mr. Romney’s aides calculated his words-per-minute rate in the primary campaign debates to break him of the habit of feeling that he needs to rattle off the most statistics.

Mr. Romney’s team has concluded that debates are about creating moments and has equipped him with a series of zingers that he has memorized and has been practicing on aides since August. His strategy includes luring the president into appearing smug or evasive about his responsibility for the economy.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2012debates; debates; obama; romney

1 posted on 09/29/2012 11:22:26 AM PDT by kristinn
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To: kristinn

Just channel Newt


2 posted on 09/29/2012 11:25:01 AM PDT by Mr. K ("The only thing the World would hate more than the USA in charge is the USA NOT in charge")
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To: kristinn
Romney needs to throw numbers at Obama. Obama is terrible with numbers.
3 posted on 09/29/2012 11:27:01 AM PDT by cruise_missile (')
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To: kristinn

Tough crowds at the practice, eh.. let me guess. The Nytimese say that Obama is being prepared to take the abuse from the right wing purveyors of hate, “teabaggers” — staff members shout the N-word and curse; throw pieces of watermelon at Obama. . . .


4 posted on 09/29/2012 11:29:11 AM PDT by WilliamofCarmichael (If modern America's Man on Horseback is out there, Get on the damn horse already!)
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To: kristinn
No one wants a professor; they want a president.

...and nobamanuts is neither.

5 posted on 09/29/2012 11:35:58 AM PDT by Las Vegas Ron (Medicine is the keystone in the arch of socialism)
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To: kristinn
What really gets my blood pressure up is that the Media-types get to frame and or even manipulate the daily political landscape and then also get to host, arrange and ”moderate’ the debates themselves?



Why do we keep kicking at this same football every year?
6 posted on 09/29/2012 11:35:58 AM PDT by John 3_19-21 (Obama's biggest challenge in this election; reality.)
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To: Mr. K

Exactly...Romney doesn’t need to practice dismembering Obama with reality. He needs to practice how he will respond to moronic questions from the media-whores. When one of those imbeciles asks him why he wants to take away contraceptives, he needs to put on his best “ what-an-asshole-you-are” face before answering. Then respond that 48 million people are on food stamps...do you really think that’s the most important issues to those people? That kind of practice.


7 posted on 09/29/2012 11:36:24 AM PDT by wny
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To: John 3_19-21

every 4 years


8 posted on 09/29/2012 11:37:48 AM PDT by John 3_19-21 (Obama's biggest challenge in this election; reality.)
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To: wny

If he makes too many faces the media will call it “petulant”. Really, I don’t know what a Republican candidate could do to for the ‘rat media to admit they won a debate other than for the ‘rat candidate to just there and drool, and Biden already gets a pass on that one.


9 posted on 09/29/2012 11:41:23 AM PDT by mrsmel (One Who Can See)
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To: cruise_missile

When Mitt gets Odumbo rattled, there will be clarifications for the next few weeks on what numbnuts really meant.


10 posted on 09/29/2012 11:42:26 AM PDT by SgtHooper (The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on the list.)
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To: kristinn
Watching Fox this morning, there was a man from the Obama camp. He was saying that Obama just has not practiced much, no time, blah, blah, blah with the EXCUSES.

Lowering the expectations of Obama, because, because, because, he has just been to busy to practice. aka, (know what's going on, or remember what he has said before, or what his #1 Priority is?) Well, he could make it CLEARER.

Said they expect Romney to have some Zingers, sure hope so. I think they are concerned for their boy wonder.

Why, I'm already feeling sorry for Zero, poor BOY/s

11 posted on 09/29/2012 11:44:21 AM PDT by annieokie (O)
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To: kristinn

All Romney has to do is let obama drone on then, when he is done or cut off point to Obama and say “what this man just said is bullshyt, and let me tell you why” then explain.


12 posted on 09/29/2012 12:07:32 PM PDT by cableguymn (peace through strength. if they don't like you at least they will fear you.)
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To: Mr. K
You know this question will come up during the debates... "Governor Romney, if you were president, how would you have handled Benghazi differently?

And here's how he should answer... "...first of all (DS), I'd do everything I could to get the MSM executives fired and have them replaced with Rational, Reasonable Journalists who care about the truth and wouldn't cover for a President who could not find it within himself to uphold our American values... What Would I Do DIFFERENTLY... hell, I will lead the way an American President is supposed to lead dammit, not from BEHIND! Then I'd surround myself with true American heros that believe in a strong America..." or something simmilar, but will he? we can only pray...

13 posted on 09/29/2012 12:20:08 PM PDT by dps.inspect (rage against the Obama machine...)
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To: SgtHooper
The MSM is going to be the biggest battle regarding the debate.
Goebbels would be so proud of them.

They will say that Obama being rattled was because Romney was over the top and frightened der fearless leader.

14 posted on 09/29/2012 12:21:06 PM PDT by cruise_missile (')
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To: kristinn

obama quit hissing your ssssssssssssssssssssss like some icky snake


15 posted on 09/29/2012 12:28:31 PM PDT by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
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To: kristinn
It doesn't matter what Romney does, or, for that mater, what Zero does: the "news" media will proclaim Zero the winner "by a large margin" and trumpet it repeatedly for days. Besides, it will be all hardball, gotcha' questions for Romney, and lobbed softball questions to Zero (who probably already knows the questions).

Romney needs to ignore them and speak directly to the American public. Then, after the debates, his minions should be ready to roll on as many networks as possible to repeat and expand on what Mitt says, talking over the liberal commentators if need be.

16 posted on 09/29/2012 12:35:48 PM PDT by jeffc (The U.S. media are our enemy)
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To: dps.inspect

Real good answer. Maybe you should be practicing with Romney.


17 posted on 09/29/2012 12:57:52 PM PDT by Maryhere ("HE comes to rule the earth")
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To: kristinn
Photobucket
18 posted on 09/29/2012 1:07:31 PM PDT by RetSignman
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To: kristinn

Neither one of them will answer any questions posted before them, were you all born yesterday? The debates serve the candidates to make short speeches unrelated to the questions. That’s the way it’s always been. Prepare for hearing speeches, cliches, banalities, platitudes, shibboleths.


19 posted on 09/29/2012 1:15:38 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Bad things are wrong!)
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To: kristinn
His strategy includes luring the president into appearing smug or evasive about his responsibility for (fill in the blank.)

I would go with the Middle East and terrorists. Obama does not like to talk about terrorism...denies it!

(I can't stand Obama!)

20 posted on 09/29/2012 1:23:33 PM PDT by lonestar (It takes a village of idiots to elect a village idiot.)
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