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| Obama prepares for second debate as Romney and Ryan campaign in Ohio | Obama prepares for second debate as Romney and Ryan campaign in Ohio |
| (12 days later) | |
| President Barack Obama hunkered down for intensive debate preparation in Virginia on Saturday, as his Republican rival, Mitt Romney, continued his push to win votes in battleground states. | President Barack Obama hunkered down for intensive debate preparation in Virginia on Saturday, as his Republican rival, Mitt Romney, continued his push to win votes in battleground states. |
| Romney and his running-mate, Paul Ryan, hit the campaign trail in Ohio, a crucial barometer of voting intention and a must win for both candidates in the 6 November general election. | Romney and his running-mate, Paul Ryan, hit the campaign trail in Ohio, a crucial barometer of voting intention and a must win for both candidates in the 6 November general election. |
| Buoyed by a strong performance in the first presidential debate a fortnight ago, the Republican candidate has also made political capital in recent days over claims by vice-president Joe Biden that the White House had not been aware of requests to beef up security in Benghazi before last month's embassy attack. | Buoyed by a strong performance in the first presidential debate a fortnight ago, the Republican candidate has also made political capital in recent days over claims by vice-president Joe Biden that the White House had not been aware of requests to beef up security in Benghazi before last month's embassy attack. |
| Yesterday, Romney accused Biden of "doubling down on denial" over the remark, which he made during a spirited debate with Ryan on Thursday. | Yesterday, Romney accused Biden of "doubling down on denial" over the remark, which he made during a spirited debate with Ryan on Thursday. |
| The Republicans claim that the vice president is misleading the American people by suggesting that he and the president were not informed of security concerns in the lead up to the assault on the US consulate in Benghazi, during which ambassador Chris Stevens and three other US citizens were killed. | The Republicans claim that the vice president is misleading the American people by suggesting that he and the president were not informed of security concerns in the lead up to the assault on the US consulate in Benghazi, during which ambassador Chris Stevens and three other US citizens were killed. |
| "We weren't told they wanted more security; we did not know they wanted more security," Biden said during the televised debate – a remark that is disputed by Romney and his supporters. | "We weren't told they wanted more security; we did not know they wanted more security," Biden said during the televised debate – a remark that is disputed by Romney and his supporters. |
| The dispute has added to a a sense of creeping unease among Democrats, who have seen the president's poll lead eaten away over the last two weeks. | The dispute has added to a a sense of creeping unease among Democrats, who have seen the president's poll lead eaten away over the last two weeks. |
| The changing political wind has put added emphasis on the importance of a better performance by Obama in the second presidential debate, which is due to take place on Tuesday in New York. | The changing political wind has put added emphasis on the importance of a better performance by Obama in the second presidential debate, which is due to take place on Tuesday in New York. |
| On Saturday, the Democrat flew to Virginia to engage in a series of mock debates, in preparation for the encounter with Romney. The president's public schedule has been cleared for the entire weekend, extending into Monday, as he attempts to avoid a repeat of the last debate, during which he was accused of not showing enough fight. | On Saturday, the Democrat flew to Virginia to engage in a series of mock debates, in preparation for the encounter with Romney. The president's public schedule has been cleared for the entire weekend, extending into Monday, as he attempts to avoid a repeat of the last debate, during which he was accused of not showing enough fight. |
| Romney spent Saturday on the stump, concluding a week of campaign rallies. | Romney spent Saturday on the stump, concluding a week of campaign rallies. |
| "I've had the fun of going back and forth across Ohio, and this week I was also in Florida and Iowa, I was in North Carolina and Virginia. And you know what? There is a growing crescendo of enthusiasm," Romney told an enthusiastic crowd at a sunset rally Friday. | "I've had the fun of going back and forth across Ohio, and this week I was also in Florida and Iowa, I was in North Carolina and Virginia. And you know what? There is a growing crescendo of enthusiasm," Romney told an enthusiastic crowd at a sunset rally Friday. |
| Polls suggest that in Ohio, Obama retains a slight edge amongst voters. | Polls suggest that in Ohio, Obama retains a slight edge amongst voters. |
| In a bid to shore up his appeal amongst middle America, Obama returned to a theme of supporting US industry in his weekly radio address Saturday. Contrasting his backing of the auto industry to the position of Romney, the president said: "We refused to throw in the towel and do nothing. We refused to let Detroit go bankrupt." | In a bid to shore up his appeal amongst middle America, Obama returned to a theme of supporting US industry in his weekly radio address Saturday. Contrasting his backing of the auto industry to the position of Romney, the president said: "We refused to throw in the towel and do nothing. We refused to let Detroit go bankrupt." |
| The Republican candidate opposed using government funds to help struggling US carmakers, a fact that Democrats have sought to highlight on a number of occasions. | The Republican candidate opposed using government funds to help struggling US carmakers, a fact that Democrats have sought to highlight on a number of occasions. |
| On Saturday, the Obama team also released a new TV advertisement which focuses on the successes of president's first term, including the saving of American autoworkers' jobs and the assassination of terror chief Osama bin Laden. The commercial is narrated by actor Morgan Freeman. He, alongside singer Bruce Springsteen, is adding a touch of glamour to the president's campaign as it heads into its final weeks. | On Saturday, the Obama team also released a new TV advertisement which focuses on the successes of president's first term, including the saving of American autoworkers' jobs and the assassination of terror chief Osama bin Laden. The commercial is narrated by actor Morgan Freeman. He, alongside singer Bruce Springsteen, is adding a touch of glamour to the president's campaign as it heads into its final weeks. |
| Next week, Springsteen will perform at an Obama rally in Ohio. Democrat strategists hope that his appeal amongst blue-collar workers will help their cause in winning over floating voters in the state. | Next week, Springsteen will perform at an Obama rally in Ohio. Democrat strategists hope that his appeal amongst blue-collar workers will help their cause in winning over floating voters in the state. |
| Ohio is seen as a crucial battleground to both candidates. If Romney fails to take the state, his path to the White House will be very difficult – no Republican candidate has won the presidency without first taking Ohio. | Ohio is seen as a crucial battleground to both candidates. If Romney fails to take the state, his path to the White House will be very difficult – no Republican candidate has won the presidency without first taking Ohio. |
| Obama visited the state earlier this week before turning to the more immediate task at hand – stemming the slide towards Republican momentum through a strong performance at the second presidential debate. Tuesday's encounter will take the form of a town-hall debate, with candidates answering questions posed by members of the audience. | Obama visited the state earlier this week before turning to the more immediate task at hand – stemming the slide towards Republican momentum through a strong performance at the second presidential debate. Tuesday's encounter will take the form of a town-hall debate, with candidates answering questions posed by members of the audience. |
| The format should play into the hands of Obama, who often appears at ease in a more informal setting, especially in comparison to Romney, who can come across as aloof. But the Republican candidate has already bucked the predictions of political pundits once in a debate setting. Doing so a second time could further dent Obama's confidence in his chances of winning a second term. | The format should play into the hands of Obama, who often appears at ease in a more informal setting, especially in comparison to Romney, who can come across as aloof. But the Republican candidate has already bucked the predictions of political pundits once in a debate setting. Doing so a second time could further dent Obama's confidence in his chances of winning a second term. |
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