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| Obama campaign promises he'll be 'energised' in next presidential debate | Obama campaign promises he'll be 'energised' in next presidential debate |
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| Barack Obama's campaign team Monday promised that a better-prepared and more combative president will turn up for Tuesday's vital debate with Mitt Romney as polls showed the two tied in a dead heat in the race for the White House. | Barack Obama's campaign team Monday promised that a better-prepared and more combative president will turn up for Tuesday's vital debate with Mitt Romney as polls showed the two tied in a dead heat in the race for the White House. |
| "He's energised, and I expect he will make a passionate case," Obama campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters at his debate preparation camp in Williamsburg, Virginia. Psaki acknowledged that the polls had tightened and the race is now "very, very close". | "He's energised, and I expect he will make a passionate case," Obama campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters at his debate preparation camp in Williamsburg, Virginia. Psaki acknowledged that the polls had tightened and the race is now "very, very close". |
| With three weeks left to election day, the onus is on Obama to mount a strong comeback in Tuesday's Long Island debate to undo some of the damage caused by his dismal showing in the first of the presidential debates in Denver a fortnight ago. Another poor performance is likely to seriously jeopardise his re-election chances. | With three weeks left to election day, the onus is on Obama to mount a strong comeback in Tuesday's Long Island debate to undo some of the damage caused by his dismal showing in the first of the presidential debates in Denver a fortnight ago. Another poor performance is likely to seriously jeopardise his re-election chances. |
| The sense of urgency in the Obama campaign camp was captured in an appeal to supporters sent out in Obama's name for more campaign donations. "What we do over the next 22 days will determine not just the next four years, but what this country looks like for decades to come. That's what I'll be fighting for up on that stage tomorrow night," he said. | The sense of urgency in the Obama campaign camp was captured in an appeal to supporters sent out in Obama's name for more campaign donations. "What we do over the next 22 days will determine not just the next four years, but what this country looks like for decades to come. That's what I'll be fighting for up on that stage tomorrow night," he said. |
| He needs to lift Democrats' morale, building on running-mate Joe Biden's aggressive showing on the vice-presidential debate last Thursday, and win over floating voters. | He needs to lift Democrats' morale, building on running-mate Joe Biden's aggressive showing on the vice-presidential debate last Thursday, and win over floating voters. |
| In the run-up to the first debate, Obama seemed uninterested, finding excuses to avoid preparing, including a visit to the Hoover Dam near his debate camp in Nevada. This time round, there have been no side-trips, golf or similar distractions, other than walks in the grounds of his resort hideaway, according to his aides. | In the run-up to the first debate, Obama seemed uninterested, finding excuses to avoid preparing, including a visit to the Hoover Dam near his debate camp in Nevada. This time round, there have been no side-trips, golf or similar distractions, other than walks in the grounds of his resort hideaway, according to his aides. |
| Psaki told reporters the president would be "firm but respectful" in his approach to Romney, suggesting he will not adopt the same strategy as Biden, who was accused of being rude, patronising and disrespectful in his confrontation with his opponent, Paul Ryan. | Psaki told reporters the president would be "firm but respectful" in his approach to Romney, suggesting he will not adopt the same strategy as Biden, who was accused of being rude, patronising and disrespectful in his confrontation with his opponent, Paul Ryan. |
| The president has reviewed a video of the Denver debate, studied intensively Romney's policies and is practising hard with the Romney stand-in, former Democratic presidential candidate and senator John Kerry. | The president has reviewed a video of the Denver debate, studied intensively Romney's policies and is practising hard with the Romney stand-in, former Democratic presidential candidate and senator John Kerry. |
| Hinting at the strategy he will pursue, Psaki accused Romney of "trying to hide from his severely conservative record". | Hinting at the strategy he will pursue, Psaki accused Romney of "trying to hide from his severely conservative record". |
| Obama was heavily criticised by fellow Democrats of failing in Denver to exploit Romney's perceived weaknesses such as the secret video in which he dismissed 47% of Americans as freeloaders, his approach on women's rights, his record as chief executive of Bain Capital and his unwillingness to provide details of his plans for tax and deficit-reduction. | Obama was heavily criticised by fellow Democrats of failing in Denver to exploit Romney's perceived weaknesses such as the secret video in which he dismissed 47% of Americans as freeloaders, his approach on women's rights, his record as chief executive of Bain Capital and his unwillingness to provide details of his plans for tax and deficit-reduction. |
| Before the Denver debate, the race had seemed to almost all but over. Since then, Republican activists and enthusiasts have been energised and polls have tightened. If the polls remain unchanged, it is going to an unpredictable finish on November 6. | Before the Denver debate, the race had seemed to almost all but over. Since then, Republican activists and enthusiasts have been energised and polls have tightened. If the polls remain unchanged, it is going to an unpredictable finish on November 6. |
| A Washington Post/ABC poll published Monday had Obama on 49% to Romney's 46% among likely voters, statistically a dead heat. The detail showed a big increase in post-debate enthusiasm for Romney, up from 26% five months ago to 59% in the new poll, 11 points of this coming since the Denver debate. | A Washington Post/ABC poll published Monday had Obama on 49% to Romney's 46% among likely voters, statistically a dead heat. The detail showed a big increase in post-debate enthusiasm for Romney, up from 26% five months ago to 59% in the new poll, 11 points of this coming since the Denver debate. |
| According to ABC polling analysts, enthusiasm for Romney is substantially higher than it was for Obama's Republican opponent in 2008, up 30 points. | According to ABC polling analysts, enthusiasm for Romney is substantially higher than it was for Obama's Republican opponent in 2008, up 30 points. |
| There was some consolation for Obama, enjoying a 13-point increase, up to 42%, since the summer in the number who believe the country is headed in the right direction. His job approval rating is 50%, poor but good enough to win an election on past historical precedent. | There was some consolation for Obama, enjoying a 13-point increase, up to 42%, since the summer in the number who believe the country is headed in the right direction. His job approval rating is 50%, poor but good enough to win an election on past historical precedent. |
| A Politico poll published Monday put Obama on 49% to Romney on 48%. The most significant shift over the past fortnight has been in the eight swing states, where Romney has largely eroded Obama's poll leads. | A Politico poll published Monday put Obama on 49% to Romney on 48%. The most significant shift over the past fortnight has been in the eight swing states, where Romney has largely eroded Obama's poll leads. |
| A Public Policy Polling survey published Monday put Romney up 1% in Florida, the biggest of the swing states. Romney has risen five points since last month in the state. PPP also puts Romney up two points in another swing state, North Carolina, on 49% to Obama's 47%. | A Public Policy Polling survey published Monday put Romney up 1% in Florida, the biggest of the swing states. Romney has risen five points since last month in the state. PPP also puts Romney up two points in another swing state, North Carolina, on 49% to Obama's 47%. |
| In Ohio, one of Obama's last lines of defence if Florida, North Carolina and other east coast swing states fall to Romney, Obama maintains a five-point lead, according to PPP. It has Obama on 51% to Romney's 46%, little changed from a fortnight ago when it was 49% to 45%. | In Ohio, one of Obama's last lines of defence if Florida, North Carolina and other east coast swing states fall to Romney, Obama maintains a five-point lead, according to PPP. It has Obama on 51% to Romney's 46%, little changed from a fortnight ago when it was 49% to 45%. |
| Political commentators have drawn comparisons with 1984, when Ronald Reagan, after a poor first debate against Walter Mondale, rebounded with a strong second one. | Political commentators have drawn comparisons with 1984, when Ronald Reagan, after a poor first debate against Walter Mondale, rebounded with a strong second one. |
| Obama has come back strongly after setbacks before, particularly in 2007, during the battle for the Democratic nomination, when his aides and donors criticised him for his seeming apathy, and again in 2008 when a row over remarks by his then Chicago pastor critical of the US threatened to end his political career. | Obama has come back strongly after setbacks before, particularly in 2007, during the battle for the Democratic nomination, when his aides and donors criticised him for his seeming apathy, and again in 2008 when a row over remarks by his then Chicago pastor critical of the US threatened to end his political career. |
| The format for the Long Island debate is different from the Denver one. It is billed as town-hall style, with questions taken from the audience rather than put by a moderator. Genuine town hall debates with politicians in front of the public can be exciting, rowdy and unpredictable, but this one will be more organised, with the 80 potential questioners chosen by Gallup. | The format for the Long Island debate is different from the Denver one. It is billed as town-hall style, with questions taken from the audience rather than put by a moderator. Genuine town hall debates with politicians in front of the public can be exciting, rowdy and unpredictable, but this one will be more organised, with the 80 potential questioners chosen by Gallup. |
| Still, the format requires a skilful approach by the debaters, careful not to be seen as condescending towards real voters, as opposed to journalists. | Still, the format requires a skilful approach by the debaters, careful not to be seen as condescending towards real voters, as opposed to journalists. |
| Representatives from the two campaigns combined to express concern over the moderator, CNN journalist, Candy Crowley, a feisty anchorwoman who has said she views her role as asking follow-up questions as required. Debate negotiators from the Obama and Romney camps said that is not how they viewed her role and the agreement had been that questions from her would be limited. | Representatives from the two campaigns combined to express concern over the moderator, CNN journalist, Candy Crowley, a feisty anchorwoman who has said she views her role as asking follow-up questions as required. Debate negotiators from the Obama and Romney camps said that is not how they viewed her role and the agreement had been that questions from her would be limited. |
| Psaki, briefing reporters on Monday, sought to end the minor row by saying Obama will happily take questions from either the audience or the moderator. | Psaki, briefing reporters on Monday, sought to end the minor row by saying Obama will happily take questions from either the audience or the moderator. |
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