Obama says all-day debate prep "is a drag"

President Barack Obama uses a cell phone to call supporters during a visit to a local campaign office, Monday, Oct. 1, 2012 in Henderson, Nev. / AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

LAS VEGAS Even at a resort hotel, President Obama says spending all day prepping for a debate "is a drag."

"They're making me do my homework," he said in a phone call with a political volunteer during a visit to his campaign field office in Henderson, about a 30-minute drive from his debate camp at Lake Las Vegas.

He said the debate preparation was going great, but "basically they're keeping me indoors all the time."

But they did allow him to take a break and drop by his local campaign storefront. He walked in with six pizzas as a way of saying thanks to the 20 or so volunteers there.

"I know everybody has been working really hard," he said, though he mistakenly said there were 34 days left to the campaign. His volunteers knew there were 36 days left.

"Whatever it is," he said, "it's really coming up quick." He said the race in Nevada was going to be "be close all across the country."

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He also sounded like he was worried about some kind of October surprise surfacing during this month.

"There are going to be a number of other things we can't expect over the next couple of weeks," he said. He didn't elaborate, but he delivered a decidedly optimistic refrain.

"We're gonna get this done. We're gonna win," he said.

Neither White House spokesman Jay Carney nor campaign press secretary Jen Psaki would divulge any details of the president's debate prep. Psaki did say once again that President Obama's debate coaches were focused on combating his tendency to give long-winded answers. She also said President Obama has not had as much debate prep as hoped because of the demands of his office.

Both the White House and the campaign were ready to return fire at Mitt Romney for the blunt criticism he leveled in print at President Obama's conduct of foreign policy.

"In recent years, President Obama has allowed our leadership to atrophy," wrote Romney in an op-ed in Monday's Wall Street Journal.

He charged that American values "have been misapplied and misunderstood by a president who thinks weakness will win favor with our adversaries."

Psaki dismissed Romney's criticism and labeled his efforts at foreign policy ads as "worthless, erratic and irresponsible."

Carney stressed that President Obama has delivered on his promises to end the war in Iraq, wind down U.S. military engagement in Afghanistan, eliminate Osama bin Laden and strengthen American alliances abroad.

"This is a record that I think is very strong," said Carney.

The last of the three presidential debates, to be held October 22 in Boca Raton, Fla., will focus on foreign policy. The aides said President Obama looks forward to it.

He'll probably be kept inside for a couple of days prepping for that one as well.

[standane]

Seems like the Republican party is proving once again that ignorance is bliss! They have a candidate that flip flops on every issue...so no one can figure out what he really believes.....except on the issue of giving big tax breaks to millionaires. And that is not a popular message! He picked a running mate whose proposals he does not support....so does he want us to accept that guy as the potential President if something happens to Romney?
Obama inherited a mess from Bush....and has turned things around and everything is improving. Home sales and housing prices have started to come back up. We are not losing jobs anymore .....and we are now gaining jobs. The Dow is way up....even making the millionaires richer. We are bringing troops home and finding them jobs. The list goes on and on and the fact is....I and everyone I know, is better off today than we were 4 years ago.

[sheila19551]

Fool me once
shame on YOU
Fool me twice
Shame on ME
NO NO NO Obama. You are NOT getting my vote this time!

[jjawacs]

it must be a drag to have Mitt as your candidate...really that's the best the GOP can do...sad state of affairs

[elimba]

May be, the Obama camp should help the 47% of "those people" (dixit Mitt Romney) by sending them these government-made pizzas. With this gesture from the President, Romney can have an opportunity to make his point at the next debate.

[SDCal54]

" "Obama says all-day debate prep "is a drag" "

Translation : Let's see how many more dopes I can rope.

Can't wait for the comedy of Romney (Sarah without make-up, ever see them together)

[standane]

Who says Romney doesn't wear makeup? That tan is to orange to be real.

[mark648]

Your headline says it all. Obama actually having to focus on any task is a "drag" to him and is reflected in is inattention to presidential duties.

[realist2O1O]

Zionist, live in the past much, do you?

[ForMidnight]

Obama says all-day debate prep "is a drag."

Awwwwwww....too bad. Suck it up and do your job.

[collie61]

Zion - Congratulations, you have the left wing talking points down perfectly. The problem is, most, if not all of your points have already been proven exagerated and overblown with fuzzy math.

[realist2O1O]

Zionist, please quote the faux statistics continuously. Also use "Bishop Robme" because originality of thought is obviously not your strong suit.

[erin_yu]

Mitt Romney is a great debater. That's if only Romney can figure out which Romney shows up at the debates!

[thechooch1]

And only if he has an empty chair to debate.

[igotta9]

Use the telepromter, Mr President...your fans will adore you. Also, use this occasion to come out of the closet (more adulation). Style over substance is your ticket to 2012...thanks for the free cell phone.

[inbethlehem]

Go get 'em Mr. President. Like shooting fish in a fishbowl.