Presidential Debate 2012 Time & Schedule: First Debate On Oct. 3, 9 - 10:30 PM ET; Experts Weigh In On Candidates' Predicted Performance
Wednesday night marks the first official debate between presidential candidates Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.
The incumbent and his challenger will meet at the University of Denver in Denver, Colo., on Oct. 3. The debate will be held from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time and televised on most major networks.
The first in a series of three presidential debates will focus on domestic policy issues. The moderator will be Jim Lehrer, the executive editor of the news show "PBS NewsHour."
After months of campaigning and back-and-forth jabs between the candidates, many Americans are eager to see Obama and Romney have a face to face discussion about the country and the issues facing it.
Experts have been weighing in on how the two candidates might perform Wednesday night.
For Obama, who is presently enjoying a lead in the polls and the advantage of being the incumbent, the primary task is to keep Romney on the defensive and maintain a powerful position, according to Dan Schnur, director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at the University of Southern California and an adviser to the 2000 presidential campaign of John McCain.
"Obama's task is like being on a football team with a lead. Put in the defensive backs and don't make any mistakes," Schnur said. "Romney has to throw the ball, but it's not time yet for a Hail Mary. He has to consistently move the ball down the field."
Both candidates are strong speakers, but experts say they must be wary of their weaknesses, as one misstep could blow their entire debate performance.
David Birdsell, dean of the School of Public Affairs at New Yorks' Baruch College, said Obama's tendency to be long-winded may hinder him.
"The president is not a terrific debater. The format of short answers does not lend itself well to his skills," Birdsell said. "He has a tendency to appear supercilious, and use a tone that is condescending - especially when he starts a sentence with 'um, look.' The president a needs to avoid looking smug, out-of-touch and arrogant."
Romney's main objective should be to not allow Obama to keep him on defense, said Republican communications strategist Brett O'Donnell.
"[Romney] is a very good technical debater. He doesn't make substantial errors. His weakness is that when he gets defensive, he tends to looks bad," O'Donnell said.
