How President Obama could lose the debate to Mitt Romney

While nearly 60% of voters think President Obama will win the debates and only 34% think the GOP nominee will come out on top, that’s a trap Obama has to avoid going into the first debate.

Being overconfident has caused more than one debater to stumble badly. And keep in mind that while the President is a superior orator, he wasn’t the best debater in 2008, and Gov. Romney has had lots of practice debating and having to think on his feet this past year. The primary debates are the best dress rehearsals possible. And Obama hasn’t had even one. Debating takes a different set of skills that does speaking to thousands.

So be ready to be rocked back on your heels a few times, Mr. President. You could lose the debates, particularly the all-important first one on October 3 if you blunder into any one of five pitfalls.

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