Obama camp plays down debate expectations

President Barack Obama speaks at a campaign event September 30, 2012, at Desert Pines High School Campaign in Las Vegas, Nevada. / MANDEL NGAN/AFP/GettyImages

LAS VEGAS Kicking off three days of preparation for his first high-stakes debate Wednesday night with Mitt Romney, President Obama portrayed himself as the underdog.

"Governor Romney - he's a good debater," said the president. "I'm just okay."

Mr. Obama held a twilight rally on a high school athletic field about 20 minutes from the Vegas strip, and said he's looking forward to the debate.

When he told the crowd, "folks in the media are speculating already on whose gonna have the best zingers," some supporters in the estimated 11,000-strong crowd shouted back: "You are."

The president arrived in this gambling mecca Sunday afternoon and set up debate camp at a luxury resort hotel just east of the city in Henderson, Nevada.

His preparations will include mock debates with Sen. John Kerry, D-MA., playing the role of Mitt Romney, though Kerry did not fly here aboard Air Force One.

• Candidates cram for their first debate
• Gingrich: Romney needs good debate to win
• Complete coverage: Election 2012

Why Nevada?

"This is a key state for us and for our campaign," Obama Campaign press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters aboard Air Force One on the flight to Las Vegas.

It's a battleground state that President Obama won handily in 2008 by a margin of 55 percent to 43 percent, but which current polls show as a toss-up.

This is Mr. Obama's eighth visit to Nevada this year, and his Sunday evening event was his fourth campaign rally in this state.

President Obama's remarks on the debate reflected his campaign's strategy of trying to lower expectations for his performance.

"He has had less time to prepare than we anticipated," said Psaki. "It's difficult to schedule significant blocks of time when you're the president, regardless of your party."

Like the president, she too portrays Romney as a more skilled and experienced debater, thanks to the 23 debates Romney was in during the primary campaign.

In rare praise of Romney, the Obama campaign spokeswoman said: "He's been disciplined and has been able to give short answers, so we know that's a strength."

Psaki said President Obama "has a tendency to give longer, substantive answers."

She said part of the debate prep is to help the president boil down his debate responses to their essence, to better fit within the time restraints of the debate.

Citing reports that Romney has been prepping zingers to use against the president, Psaki said "that's not what the president's focus is on."

"So if you're expecting that, that's probably not what he's going to deliver on," she said of zingers by Mr. Obama.

She told reporters that he wants to use the debates to speak directly to the American people about his vision for "moving the country forward."

If true, it's a surprising strategy. Clever zingers are usually the basis on which pundits judge which candidates win, and the only thing - besides gaffes - that are remembered from the debates.

[hypnotoad72]

If Obama loses, it will be because he deliberately dumbs himself down, comes across apathetic or worse, makes more gaffes than his competition, etc...

[pohd1]

What a joke. He knows he will win the media coverage. Actually the media will declare him the victor no matter what is said. The last several weeks the media has been acting like some third world media source from a dictator led nation in which the media must support the administration no matter how foolish they look.

[mark648]

Lowering expectations is Obama's way of admitting that he can't defend his policies or his record!

[Banqueno]

Yeah! Obummer is lowering expectations because he will be the one with gotcha answers, this guy is a snake oil salesman, he will say and do anything to get re-elected and the sad part of all this is that people are buying his wares, maybe we have al become such dummies that whatever comes out of Obummer's mouth is the truth, not to mention the MSM trying to push him over the line, there the MSM montra that you can't ask difficult questions be cause if you do, then you are a racist. Come on America wake up before is too late 16 TRILLION in debt!! do you think Obummer is going to pivot and fix the fiscal cliff we are about to go off?, think about that when you get into your voting booth and then blacken your choices.

[hypnotoad72]

Gee, where were you in 1991 when GHWB's $3 Trillion didn't faze you?

And what do you think your savior Romney is?

[rider1956]

That's because democrats still can not define the word "is". It's definition depends upon the amount of money that is in the balance.

[julesarcher1]

That "is" a smart thing to say.

[hypnotoad72]

julesarcher1 -

You're responding to a person who has no idea what the word "cant" is, or why that's all he is capable of doing... noting the irony of his own preferred party... which has created jobs...


http://www.zdnet.com/blog/government/irony-gop-call-blasting-obama-for-unemployment-hosted-in-philippines/11257

[msimamaji]

What??? NO ZINGERS!!!

Truth told. I'm zinged out.

That's anoter good reason to re-hire President Obama and fire the entire lyin'-Ryan GOP.

[beresponsible]

CBS' Cheryl Atkinson helped break the Fast and Furious scandal, and now CBS is not going to headline Univision's scathing report from last night? CBS, are you still trying to cover for this administration? Where's the truth? Benghazigate? Shame on you.

[Johnny1horse]

Well, I created this short, non-partisan music video. Please enjoy......& share: http://youtu.be/a0SGOyP9KkU Website: www.myhorseforpresident.com

[myth1958]

Mark Knoller uses a deft touch with the irony, here, as he reports what the Obama camp tells him, but those who know better can already write the headlines for the day after Round 1. Romney may have tons of experience debating this year - but so do lots of college debate teams, and neither will get to see the inside of the WH unless invited or on a tour. President Obama is a great personality at the podium, which is why he defeated the last crop of contenders (inl. John McCain) last time around. It may not be Christmas season, but we're about to see how mincemeat is made, and it is just as ugly as the birth of hot dogs and hamburger. I hope the GOP spends 2 billion this election: less $$ for them to play with next time around.

[ballwyllo]

Wow what insight you have. I sure hope that those Republicans don't win any elections this year. How great it will be if the Democrats controlled everything. Oh boy then we will see how every thing will be great. Who would they blame then. If it happens as you apparently wish, it will be the last election they ever win in the U.S.

[RollotheNorman]

Both sides are poor mouthing expected debate performance for their candidate. The problem for Willard is that as things stand, he needs a homerun, while Obama only needs a draw. Anybody care to bet Willard 10K that he is going to win big?

[unclebernies]

My analogy is it's the 4th quarter down by 10 with 2 minutes left and Romney needs a hail mary pass and an onside kick. Not very likley.