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How will Romney handle first debate with President Obama?

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    What strategy should the campaign use?

  • Duration 8:01
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Now there are reports out the governor Romney intends to quote fact check the president on some matters at their first debate next week.

But is that really how he should be approaching this.

What many believe is the most important debate and perhaps the most important moment of this campaign the first debate next week.

During the now -- -- Fox News digital politics editor and host of power plant foxnews.com lot.

Also Marjorie Clinton who's a former -- the Obama campaign in principle of Clifton consulting.

And Tony sayegh was a former press aide to Republican vice presidential nominee Jack Kemp and president of talk radio news service -- right so that.

This is a huge huge moment.

In the campaign.

Next Wednesday in Denver Colorado and many people believe it's really.

Them by far the most important debate Chris and so you tell me whether that they but -- governor Romney.

It has the right strategy here.

Well if it's in Politico we don't know the veracity of it we don't know whether or not that's actually what they mean to do.

But we know this.

That if you're explaining you're losing and what governor Romney has been doing a lot of is trying to correct the record on President Obama.

And in the -- that you just played in that in that video Meghann.

The president said yeah we know we don't get it right but we don't care it's okay it's cool because it's politics.

That -- he's not going to do something at any point that change the president.

In tune in to being.

A nicer guy or changing the way that he describes Mitt Romney because remember this -- been the most.

Rough absolutely negative reelection campaign ever run by an incumbent.

And if Mitt Romney thinks that he can change that by correcting the record he's making -- mistake he needs to lay out his policies and say -- this is what he wants to do.

Not say this isn't what I yeah.

-- well I would say what's happening and what happens in every election and what we saw just two weeks ago was the reverse the Obama campaign saying the Romney campaign coming after us and let Chris that is exactly right.

You don't want to be on the defensive you wanna be on the -- offensive.

With a debate should be about absolutely it's a contest of character but it's also a contest a policy and I think that staying on policy is a farmer productive thing.

I don't know that the American people actually take.

Any of -- seriously anymore it's it's a constant attack on the other I think what Obama was saying it was not saying -- we've done it wrong but saying this is the nature of politics.

I mean yes I think both camps have done things that aren't appropriate -- don't serve the American people but politics as usual.

Can he change the momentum of this campaign Tony.

When he gets to Wednesday's debate and you know I'm recording dead -- -- and -- -- -- tied up but the president seems to have taken the lead.

In a couple of swing states this week so governor rod is clearly looking at that.

Well I think that -- in the most effectively mechanism would be the two my two colleagues at base at least that would just.

Putting governor Romney totally on the defensive which is not where he needs to be with the economy being what it is and that is why it's so critical.

In this debate while he's on the same stage as President Obama.

No real other than mr.

earlier are no real filter in between for him to turn around and say Mr.

President how can you really make an affirmative case.

That we are better off -- we were four years ago and more importantly.

How can you promised the American people were going to be better off for years from now if all your promising is more of the same it has to be very assertive it has to be very pointed.

But he has to stick to some sort of discipline this is the problem now when you feel your behind this and start to scatter all over the place governor -- really needs to be.

Focused on his message you know Chris has a really interesting article in GQ talking about debates and -- back out there for those who know right behind that if these two guys is actually particularly good at that.

It contrary to what a lot of people believe you know 'cause they're -- politicians.

But they're not that gifted you know Bill Clinton kind that you gonna go out there is gonna wipe the floor with somebody because you can next about -- so what.

You tell me whether when we listen in these two guys Wednesday night it's going to be about how they -- who got a better policy.

Or whether it's going to be just about a moment like avoiding a gaffe like Al Gore -- Guess they're deep -- deep -- of the former vice president was very unfortunate.

And yes we have a greater history of negative things happening in debates that changed the trajectory of races so the first thing as.

Don't screw up the that that's rule number one the rule number two if you Mitt Romney when you go into this debate yet she need to change directory of this you can't do it by being -- human fact checker.

As the Politico article suggests but what you can do is remember that you're talking to tens of millions of American voters.

That night.

And what ever the question as -- whatever Barack Obama says Mitt Romney has to make sure that he puts a simple clear.

Statement of his views and his beliefs about the future of the United States.

On the record it's his chance to put it on the right.

Tickets were round ever and I would recommend him not telling to me -- that my husband says character assassination just put a microphone in his hand and I'll take care of themselves -- he needs to be very.

Tell jokes if you're not genuinely funny and that's true that's true I don't know the Sox fan of either of them and let in this economy is no laughing matter and I think most people are going to be watching this debate in the real hole.

Of who they feel they can trust this economy in the hands of for the next four years and that is frankly why -- governor Romney.

-- over performs with some of these very skewed polls seem to indicate because the American people know that they are in trouble that our economy has not been rescued.

For years -- well -- president's approval ratings on the economy have been going up that well that's if you totally destructive to the whole metrics of these polls but the bottom line is meg can you do have a situation where governor Romney.

Still has a lot and a lot of time -- Reagan changed the entire trajectory of his race against Jimmy Carter.

Because of the debates and you get as pretending he did I oh boy till he's -- back and nugget about I'll give you this question is well Tony.

Is is Romney.

Like Ronald Reagan.

Look I don't think people thought Ronald Reagan was the great me and he was at that time either there -- we can't see it twice I think Reagan but -- that Reagan at least after talking.

I was I was covering the debate in which Mitt Romney.

Manhandled me Gingrich in Florida it was a real important moment for -- he showed he was capable.

He was definitely capable of doing it certainly can't help you but here's the thing because at and we talked about this a one point.

It earlier -- -- I think.

Never thought he did very very well on that one and debate against -- Gingrich and that -- can iron -- coach.

Well look there's debate coaching there's all that stuff this is the way that he has to do.

When he gets onstage in Denver is this attack President Obama.

Don't worry when the when the punditry says.

It was too mean or it was shallow where it was short on specifics or whatever I always say that it doesn't matter they all -- -- that after he.

He's got to launch an attack on President Obama he's got to weather the storm in the press says.

Oh you're doing it wrong oh we don't like what you're doing that's what they always say especially about Republicans to -- he's got to attack attack attack.

And then use that time in front of those viewers to lay out three points three simple points about what he wants to do.

Hit hard to keep it simple and get out of ten.

I have market I just wanted to point out the the attack attack attack -- this is what we're defending this week in the press about character assassination but I absolutely agree we need simple messaging.

No singing no jokes I mean.

It is going to be a different debate for Romney the sky around he's not debating Rick Perry so it's going to be a little bit of a tougher -- enabling you wouldn't know anything -- -- -- -- -- a slightly new.

Michelle hot it was no easy sparring partner though it's true if -- but it being -- be -- Santorum.

But I don't I don't I do think even given the polls like there's going to be a lot of eyes on this debate and we have been as a public I think hungry for policy.

For -- character discussions we know we've got two pretty solid guys so let's I wanna see some real facts now.

I think this is what they have to avoid.

After that.

Yeah president Betty -- who walked over to bush you know walked or got it's being invasion of -- -- You know it doesn't Obama tell me a little behind notes I'll.

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