Obama says he's 'just okay' at debating

[TomCADem]

Source: Boston Globe

LAS VEGAS (AP) — President Barack Obama says he’s ‘‘just okay’’ at debating, as his campaign continued trying to lower expectations ahead of his first face-off with Republican Mitt Romney.

Speaking at an evening campaign rally Sunday, Obama graded his GOP opponent as ‘‘a good debater.’’ The candidates will compete in their first of three debates Wednesday.

The president says Americans deserve a discussion focused on what the candidates would do to keep the country growing and restore middle class security.

Obama spoke to more than 11,000 people gathered at a high school in Las Vegas. The rally was aimed in part at rallying Hispanic voters and featured a performance by the Mexican rock band Mana.


Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2012/president/candidates/obama/2012/09/30/obama-says-just-okay-debating/ibLuYvHV4cCN5TgWAS7PvO/story.html

---

This is hilarious. I guess the Romney campaign is trying to think outside of the box by raising the expectations for Romney with Christie saying that Romney would reset his campaign (again) with the first debate by laying out his agenda and the Romney campaign bragging about how they have been spending months on end in debate preparation. The NY Times notes their focus on "zingers." I guess it will be a major disappointment for the Romney camp if Romney does not reduce the live audience to tears and President Obama does not offer his resignation in disgust following the first debate.

Afterall, while most candidates spend the week following their convention holding rallies to magnify their post-convention bump, Romney holed up in his compound in New Hampshire away from the press to focus on debate preparation. Given Romney's two Harvard degrees and the millions invested in his campaign, anything less than a complete turnaround would be a major disappointment for Republicans.

[freshwest]

1. Obama has always struck me as modest to a fault. He's about the people he's working for, Americans.

Not a self-promoter and braggart like Mittens. If the American people watching the debates can't see through the hype, stick a fork in this country.

[banned from Kos]

2. 2008 Obama 3 McCain 0 - according to polls at the time.

And McCain was a feisty war hero Senator never at a loss for words.

Romney is no McCain.

[SoapBox]

3. Under promise and over deliver...

...an old saying that was told to us at a seminar one time.

I think it describes President Obama exactly. He never "blows" about stuff like the Repukes.

Hopefully, the Mittens Campaign Disaster will just keep the crap coming this week and then he'll stand on that
stage, getting all twitchy.

[desertduck]

4. No one who goes to harvard law is "just okay" at debating.

[OnyxCollie]

5. This isn't about coming up with a good argument.

This is about looking good in front of the TV audience, most of whom are morons (as far as true understanding of politics.)

Here's what will be attacked: Obama's gonna say "uh" and "um" a lot. The RW response?

"Didya hear how many times he said 'um?' I lost count. Without his teleprompter, you can see this guy for who he truly is; an empty suit."

[desertduck]

24. you're right. I heard EXACTLY that post debate. lol

[sellitman]

6. Obama should just resign today. He is no match for Mitten's

[durablend]

7. Well let's be honest here...

Short of Romney tripping and falling on his face, the villagers will say he "won" the debate(s) no matter what he does.

[NorthCarolina]

8. To be honest, this whole debate tactic strikes me as extremely juvenile

on the part of both candidates. He's a better debater than me; no you are the better debater; no I'm not you are; not me it's you, it's you, it's you....infinity. No tag backs.

Give me a friggin break, it's like we're voting for class president in grade school.

[durablend]

9. Need I remind you...

Give me a friggin break, it's like we're voting for class president in grade school.

Much of the electorate only has a grade school education (many of which will vote for a Republican, no matter what)

[NorthCarolina]

10. No need to remind me,

there's plenty of those folk in my neck of the woods. Regardless, this whole campaign is devoid of facts, figures, and truths. What does EITHER candidate truly plan to do to Social Security and Medicare? The ongoing wars? The Wall Street criminals? ...and the list goes on.

When will America ever have a REAL choice in an election? Somebody in the running that's NOT 100% Wall Street Approved. Somebody that see's the need to engage in grown up discussions about what they would do as President, leaving the childish banter behind.

[emulatorloo]

11. Obama campaign is full of facts, figures and truths.

Romney has nothing but lies.

I am sure your notion that Romney and Obama are "the same" will be praised by the same 4 or 5 very loud DU'ers who push that delusional narrative though.

[NorthCarolina]

14. I'm not so sure it's a "delusional" narrative, but

since you appear to be "in the know", please delineate EXACTLY what changes to Social Security and Medicare Obama would agree to for us delusional masses who are unable to decipher such information from the plethora of "facts, figures and truths" being put forth. Thank you.

[TomCADem]

20. Sounds like the False Equivalency Narrative to me...

The House GOP did actually vote to turn Medicare into voucher care and Ryan has pushed for privitizing social security. Also, Romney is getting millions of dollars of support from Sheldon Adelson, who is also one of Netenyahu's primary backers. Romney is promising to repeal Health Care Reform, Financial Reform and cut taxes by 20 percent without disclosing what he would cut.

So, are you seriously going to insist that DUers make the case for you that there is a difference between President Obama and Romney?

[treestar]

16. If you claim not to know what President Obama will do no those subjects

You have not really tried to find out.

[NorthCarolina]

18. Well, from what I can tell I assume he would be agreeable to either,

or both.....and that concerns me.

[awoke_in_2003]

12. OK?...

hell, his skills temporarily turned McCain into a zombie

[treestar]

15. That's still funny!

[awoke_in_2003]

19. I know it is wrong to laugh...

but I cannot help it.

[goclark]

21. was that a photo shop..

I always thought it was....

[awoke_in_2003]

22. If it is...

it is very good. I am not good at spotting them (unless they are blatant), but some good spotters here said it was the real deal.

[sofa king]

13. I'll bet he's "just okay" at poker, too.

[awoke_in_2003]

23. I wouldn't play him...

for cash.

[bemildred]

17. Romney keeps his streak alive. nt

[geek tragedy]

25. He overestimated himself. nt

[regnaD kciN]

26. Yep...

If he'd been "just okay" on Wednesday night, this race would be over by now.