Obama En Route To Debate

By: Maria Gavrilovic
Topics: Barack Obama

(CBS)

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

(MEMPHIS) - Barack Obama will arrive at the University of Mississippi - Oxford in about an hour, where he will spend the rest of the afternoon preparing for tonight's debate.

Before departing Washington this morning, Obama spoke to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, Majority Leader Harry Reid, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi and said that he is optimistic that an agreement on the Wall Street bailout proposal will be reached.

Although he plans to return to the capital tomorrow, Mississippi is where Obama said he needs to be tonight.

"My strong sense is that the best thing that I can do, rather than to inject presidential politics into some delicate negotiations, is to go down to Mississippi and explain to the American people what is going on and my vision for leading the country," he said aboard his campaign plane.

This afternoon, Obama will meet up with top advisors, including David Plouffe, David Axelrod, and Anita Dunn, who arrived early this morning.

Obama left his debate prep team behind in Clearwater, Florida yesterday when he flew to Washington to meet with President Bush. However, after the talks on the economy broke down, Obama decided to overnight in Washington, leaving his advisers in Florida.

Obama spokesman Bill Burton is doing his part to raise expectations for McCain's performance tonight, suggesting that the foreign policy focus of the debate is "McCain's professed area of expertise."

"The centerpiece of John McCain's campaign has been his more than a quarter century of experience in Washington learning about and debating foreign policy," Burton said in a e-mailed memo. "If he slips up, makes a mistake, or fails to deliver a game-changing performance, it will be a serious blow to his campaign."

For his part, McCain adviser Mark Salter tried to raise expectations for Obama, telling reporters today en route to Mississippi that McCain's goal tonight is "To do well against a guy who is a pretty good debater."

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by brownpride46 September 27, 2008 6:19 PM EDT: Dear Ms. Gavrilovic,

This presidential race has been electrifying! Mr. Obama clearly won this debate.
My fear is a Democratic phyrric victory. My concern is the current lawsuit: Berg vs. Obama. Why can''t Obama simply put this issue behind him by providing a certified vault copy of his birth certificate?
We''d all readily produce our birth certificate as a condition for employment. Why would Obama and Howard Dean make a motion for dismissal? Obama should meet this challenge head on! He should produce the identification paper necessary to make Mr. Berg go away!
I want to be proud of our next President; not feel like I was victimized by some well-marketed confidence game.

Very Truly Yours,

Concerned Democrat; Reply to this comment


by jone775 September 26, 2008 7:10 PM EDT: Go "O!" I''ll be praying for you buddy!; Reply to this comment


by vmroad089 September 26, 2008 5:58 PM EDT: With utmost respect for, Mr. McCain, he seems really confused and not sure what to say? I hope he doesn''t start his opening with that story about his service, it is wearing thin!

I am looking for the one with courage, courage to confront world issues and not rebuke them as unimportant. Every nation has a right to exist and live the way they want. That does not mean we cannot trade and be friends with them. The old school of if you''re not like US we won''t talk to you, is an attitude that must be challenged. We live in a different world, closer and we need more patience. I think Obama has proven that he is that man. He has the new attitude that this country needs.; Reply to this comment