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How can Romney win presidential debate?, Part 2
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Political debate coach Brett O'Donnell weighs in
- Duration 4:28
- Date Oct 2, 2012
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Political debate coach Brett O'Donnell weighs in
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Back -- -- stop talking about the first big debate that comes up on Wednesday.
Brett it in my experience debating with governor Romney some four years ago.
It -- to me that there were times on the debate stage -- -- -- it was almost.
Telegraphing some of his emotions and feelings.
And his body language his facial expressions.
That's an important thing that I think people watch for to see are you pushing his buttons are you getting through to -- I don't know -- -- I've noticed it as much in this year's primaries.
How important is it that Mitt Romney get under the skin of Barack Obama -- that Barack Obama get under the skin of Mitt Romney and that -- can -- -- the audience.
Well you know audiences report that they take as much as 65%.
Of the meaning.
From how something is said over what it said -- body language and how we appears on the stage is very important and you know normally when a candidate gets defensive that's when they actually looked start looking bad.
That happens with Barack Obama had happened when he told Hillary that she was likable enough he got defensive and he didn't look very good.
And it's happens sometimes with governor Romney when he did the 101000 dollar bet with.
With Governor Perry so.
It's very important that governor Romney stay on offense keep making the case about the economy and keep pushing.
Up an alternative vision that the American people can see as a better path and a better way forward to improving the economic conditions.
If he does that he'll put the president on the defensive.
If he allows the president.
Sort of you know defied the audience talk about women talk about the myth of the war on women talk about the middle class.
Divide that divide the country and gets on the defensive or talk about issues that are irrelevant to the economy.
Then that's a place where governor Romney can start to look defensive and may not look as good to the audience.
Or is it possible to be too prepared for a debate where the candidate comes out.
And almost appears to be reading off the cars that have been in printed in the back of his head because people have been pounding him with information.
Is speak to how you -- go out there and relax and and have a good time.
They opt out well you know debate preparations really about three things it's about making sure the candidate knows what they need to know for the debate.
It's so it's about making sure that they're prepared to execute a strategy in the debate.
But it's also about making sure that they're confident that they are you know it's it's like coaching a sports team you -- -- make sure they're psychologically ready.
And you don't want to have them over scripted that's what happened to Ronald Reagan in the first 1984 debate that he had with Walter Mondale he had been.
Pounded on with information.
And and it it overran the persona of Ronald Reagan and heard him so in the next -- -- came out it was much more relaxed.
Roger hill's off from all accounts.
The leader of your network did a great job preparing him.
And he did a much better job.
The same things got to be true with governor Romney he he's got to be prepared he has to know.
The information he needs to know to answer the questions but he also has to be relaxed.
And rely on himself you know one of the things I tell candidates is that it's very important that.
You know that they have the good political judgment good political instinct to make decisions and think on their feet.
Rather than rely on a script.
Real quickly Brett give me one thing that you think we ought to look far out of Mitt Romney and one thing out of Obama.
In this debate coming up Wednesday.
Well I think you know one of the pick apart from the economy I think I do think that the one thing we should be looking for is to see.
If the president is willing to talk about his record on the economy and defend it.
And American the American people ought to be making a judgment about whether or not the president can defend that record.
We ought to be looking for out of governor Romney how well he -- the case against the president that it's been.
His failure.
To lead on the economy that is let us into the spot we're in right now I think that's the most important part of the entire debate and and the debate this Wednesday will focus on the economy and domestic issues so that's what we ought to be looking for is the president responsible.
For the policies that have gotten us to the place -- -- it but if the American people decide that he is the race will turn in governor Romney's direction.
Bret thank you very much for joining -- good to have you here.