U.S. President Barack Obama cannot flunk another debate. The president's miserable performance during the first debate, on Oct. 3, handed former Governor Mitt Romney the lead in the polls and shifted momentum to the Republican challenger. But perhaps even more important is the effect it had on how voters perceive the two candidates. Romney is the candidate of change; Obama represents the status quo. Obama must show up at Tuesdays debate in Hempstead, NY, with a healthy dose of energy, interest and passion. It appears that Obama has suddenly come around to the realization that a president must woo voters too. With polls showing a neck-and-neck race, both candidates are expected to take off the gloves when they take the podium. The Romney campaign knows full well that this time Obama will change his delivery style, but a new approach and improved tactics pose no real threat; Obama cannot run away from his record, nor can he undo his policies. The debate will focus largely on foreign policy. As was the case in the last debate in Denver, the candidates will pitch two different worldviews and ask the American people to make a choice: Romney will try to sum up the administration's shortcomings in Afghanistan, Iran, Syria and Libya (he is likely to make a special emphasis on this country), in Egypt and China, and will also make reference to the damage it inflicted on U.S.-Israel relations. Obama may choose to mention the dire situation he inherited in 2009 and highlight the promise a second term holds. The GOP nominee is certain to talk about the dangerous four years Americans should expect if they re-elect Obama to a second term. Unlike the last debate, this debate will be in a town-hall meeting format. This puts a special emphasis on how the candidates interact with the audience. Obama has perfected this ability, but he knows that he must take on Romney aggressively, although without overdoing it. In fact, Obama enjoys several built-in advantages this time around. The first is that the audience will get to participate; the second is that his performance has already hit a low point in Denver and thus can only improve. Some 80 people will sit in the audience, and a few of them will get to pose questions. Obama and Romney may have the luxury of ducking questions from journalists, but not from citizens. Who would have thought this issue would actually unite the two candidates? Earlier this week, both campaigns turned against CNN's Candy Crowley, the moderator for the debate on Tuesday, after she said she would use the audience's questions to ask follow-ups on other topics as she sees fit. The way things look right now, we are in a for a cliffhanger election. A new Politico poll from Monday has Obama ahead by 1 point (49 percent to 48) nationally, but also had Romney winning in 10 swing states (50 to 48). This is a mirror image compared to last week's polling data, attesting to just how volatile this race is. The 2012 elections have become a nail-biter due to two conflicting trends: On the one hand, Romney has managed to bolster his image, but on the other hand, the average citizen's faith in the U.S. economy is once again on the rise. What will carry the day come Nov. 6? Until the first debate, 61% of voters said Obama would most likely be re-elected; this figure has since dropped to 53%. The post-debate polling after Tuesday's debate will be highly interesting.
