CPD releases debate formats

[RogueBeaver]

H/T Mark Halperin.

http://thepage.time.com/2012/07/25/the-debates/

[stegosaurus]

Man...I was really looking forward to those Lincoln-Douglas debates.

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

Man...I was really looking forward to those Lincoln-Douglas debates.

At least I have solace knowing the President has an advantage at the 2nd debate, it being a Town Hall setting and The Rominee being so awkward around people. And the last debate will be focused on foreign policy so Obama will probably win it too.

[Lief 🗽]

This schedule seems like very good news for Obama. The toughest debate is out of the way, going first, followed by the town hall debate where Romney will suck and the foreign policy debate where Romney will be soundly defeated.

[stegosaurus]

Man...I was really looking forward to those Lincoln-Douglas debates.

At least I have solace knowing the President has an advantage at the 2nd debate, it being a Town Hall setting and The Rominee being so awkward around people. And the last debate will be focused on foreign policy so Obama will probably win it too.

You're probably right. Then again, the country already knows that Romney is awkward and impersonal, not likely to be a major news story the morning after. In fact, should Romney do better than expected - it could backfire on Obama, who will largely be expected to make a fool of Romney. The "high expectations" pitfall and all that.

[cavalcade]

This schedule seems like very good news for Obama. The toughest debate is out of the way, going first, followed by the town hall debate where Romney will suck

I agree with at least this much, not sure about foreign policy- will most undecided voters even care beyond how awesome America is?- though I bet Obama is happy he'll get to remind everyone about bin Laden in his final closing statement.

Overall this is somewhat disappointing.  The topics for two of the debates will be made public "several weeks" in advance?  Ugh, cue the scripted choreographed talking point silliness.  I also don't know why domestic and foreign policy get the same amount of time.

[Torie]

The first debate will be by far the most important, just like the Nixon-Kennedy debates. Nixon did fine after the first debate. So to my mind, advantage Mittens.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

The foreign policy debate could be interesting if Romney does actually pick someone like Rice (unlikely, but the polls would seem to suggest Rice would really help Mitt).

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

The first debate will be by far the most important, just like the Nixon-Kennedy debates. Nixon did fine after the first debate. So to my mind, advantage Mittens.

Possibly, assuming that Romney can keep his foot out of his mouth during the debate. Another "corporations are people too" or "ten thousand dollar bet" moment in the national limelight could doom his chances.

[You kip if you want to...]

Mitt Romney in a town hall meeting

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

The foreign policy debate could be interesting if Romney does actually pick someone like Rice (unlikely, but the polls would seem to suggest Rice would really help Mitt).

I think Obama is gonna take some lessons from Rick Perry. He really knew how to get under Romney's skin in the debates. Obama is gonna try and irk Romney and knock him off his game.