Obama Presidential Debate Preparation To Hone Skills Over Three Days

WASHINGTON — Democrat Barack Obama studied and practiced privately with aides in a Florida hotel Tuesday in the first of three days of intense preparations for his upcoming foreign policy debate with GOP rival John McCain.

Debates are one of the few times when presidential campaigns loudly tout the skills of their opponent over their own candidate's abilities, and both campaigns were playing that age-old game of downplaying the expectations about their man ahead of Friday's event.

"Have no doubt about the capabilities of Sen. Obama to a debate. He's very, very good," McCain told voters in Ohio. "He was able to defeat Sen. Hillary Clinton, who, as we all know, is very accomplished. He was able to, with his eloquence, inspire a great number of Americans. These will be tough debates."

Obama spokesman Bill Burton delivered similar compliments right back at McCain, even less subtly.

"Given his decades in Washington, John McCain literally has more experience debating than anyone who has ever run for president," Burton said. "If he can't show the skills he's acquired debating foreign policy, it will be a massive disappointment."

McCain is showing more confidence with a full schedule this week that leaves less time for preparations. His advisers said they saw no reason to clear his calendar to prepare, given the Arizona Republican's decades-long experience on foreign affairs issues and his years of debating colleagues in the Senate.

McCain plans to work with advisers on the debate between campaign events this week in Ohio and Michigan, meetings with world leaders in New York for the United Nations General Assembly and briefings on the Wall Street crisis. He also plans to meet with Bono, the rock star and humanitarian, and appear on the "Late Show" with David Letterman.

The debate is being held at the University of Mississippi. With Mississippi firmly in the McCain column, Obama went to Florida, a nearby battleground state, to prepare _ at the luxury Belleview Biltmore golf and spa resort in Clearwater.

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Among the staff helping are senior advisers David Axelrod, Anita Dunn and Robert Gibbs, with Washington lawyer Greg Craig playing the role of McCain. Craig, a foreign policy expert and member of President Clinton's impeachment defense team, also played President Bush in John Kerry's preparations in 2004.

One goal will be to make sure Obama gets to the point quicker than he tended to in the primary debates, an aide said. The often loquacious Illinois senator has been delivering snappier soundbites recently on the campaign trail at the encouragement of his campaign advisers.

Obama is planning to venture outside the hotel to get local media coverage while he's in Florida. He began his visit with a news conference, has a rally planned for Wednesday, and aides say other outings to meet locals are possible.

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Associated Press writers Liz Sidoti in Washington and Christopher Wills in Clearwater, Fla., contributed to this report.

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On the Net:

http://www.barackobama.com

(This version CORRECTS Corrects city in which Obama is prepping to Clearwater sted Coral Gables.)

Comments

[stigys]

Video of Sarah Palin preparing for the VP debate :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6jbh29B-bE

[ChuckTx]

I guess we will see if he can "multitask" handling the financial meetings and preparing for the debate.

[BIG JOHN]

BOY OH BOY KEITH O. WILL HAVE A FIELD DAY WITH THIS ONE. TWO DAYS BEFORE THE SUPER BOWL, TWO DAYS BEFORE THE STANLEY CUP, TWO DAYS BEFORE THE N.B.A. FINALS ONE TEAM SAYS WE WANT TO POSTPONE THE GAME. OMG. MCCAIN IS DONE.

[StillIRise]

As Chris Matthews just pointed out, McCain has spent this entire week, since this crisis was first revealed, doing other things, such as campaigning across the country, traveling, introducing Sarah Palin to the heads of state and even visiting the global warming center. But now, just two days before the debate, he suddenly feels the urgency to be in Washington, suspending his campaign and cancelling his two hour scheduled appointment with Senator Obama and the American people! Why didn't he feel this urgency before?

It's ironic that Senator Obama, the "inexperienced" nominee, is competent enough to address both responsibilities, as a Senator and as a presidential candidate, at the same time, while Senator McCain, the "experience" nominee, is not.

[berrycooda]

Does this mean that Obama is cheating on the debates....practicing in a hotel room.???

Does he already know the questions. ???

This is really turning into a circus.....The donkeys and elephants are rehearsing for their big event.
I don't think either candidate has one of their original ideas.

Maybe McCain thinks this isn't the time for PARTISAN DEBATES.
With the shape the country is in, it's about time both parties get their heads together and try to help with a solution instead of the same old partisan bickering.
We have heard all the rhetoric before so why prance around the big top again.....
Most of it is about change isn't it ???? I SAID THIS BUT I CHANGED MY MIND...

[pleasethinkwomen]

It's common practice to prepare for a debate in this way. Neither team has the questions, but it's not rocket science to anticipate what some of the questions and topics will be.

Just so that you know, Obama reached out to McCain at 8:30 am today to suggest that come out together in bipartisan support of Congress working out a solution to the economic crisis. McCain agreed. And then McCain held a press conference this afternoon to "announce" his campaign suspension due to his concern about the economic crisis and to challenge Obama to do the same....Oh, and let's postpone the debate while we're at it. THIS is the partisan move, once again.

If you're looking for someone who will maintain his cool and be prepared to deal with the mess that is going to be left by the current administration, it is not John McCain.

[BIG JOHN]

MCCAIN THINKS. OMG THIS IS CUT AND RUN, GIVE THE NOBODY TIME TO PREPARE FOR THE V.P. DEBATE.

[nutty4tahoe]

McCain's campaign didn't leave time in McCain's schedule for debate prep because they knew he would try to weasel out of the debate completely. This Wall Street debacle has given McCain the opportunity to try to do just that. Hopefully the Obama campaign will see through this ruse, quote Sarah Palin and say "thanks but no thanks" to McCain and his loser advisers. Let the debates begin!!!

[StillIRise]

With McCain's numbers caving, he realizes that this debate can end his campaign. He also wants to wait for the bill to be passed in congress so he can be on the right side of the bill, whichever side that may be, before he is forced to take a definitive position in front of the American people at the debate. He's one person, one senator, and as long as he's in contact with his colleagues and staff on the, his physical presence there will not make a difference, and certainly should not prevent him from meeting his responsibility to the American people in the very critical debate that was scheduled weeks ago. The debate will only be a few hours out of one day, and surely the congress can surive those few hours without him. This is so transparent, it's almost laughable. I'm sure his supporters are breathing a sigh of relief, but when they think about what this is saying about McCain's confidence in his own campaign, not to mention what their effort to hide Palin from the media is saying, they might want to give their support for McCain/Palin a second thought!

[Oldtt]

The solution to this economic crisis has to be bipartisan to be implemented and signed by Bush. McCain and Obama are currently the leaders of their two parties. Debates are by nature confrontational and highly partisan. How can the two leaders help their parties work together in Washington while they are attacking each other on TV?

[StillIRise]

That's odd! I just heard these same words verbatim on MSNBC from McCain's surrogate. Although it's rare, it's nonetheless amazing how our original thoughts and the words we use to express our thoughts can be identical to the thoughts and words of others.

However, I agree that the solution to the economic crisis must be bipartisan, and both Senator Obama and Senator McCain are presently working in a bipartisan effort to responsibly address this crisis. However, this is separate and apart from the debate, and neither negates the other. The congressional effort to work out a bill has its purpose, and the debate has its purpose; and both the American people and the leadership in congress, as well as the two candidates themselves, are intelligent enough to make this distinction. There is no reason why they should not be able to continue to work with their staff, their colleagues and each other toward a resolution to the economic crisis, and still participate in a two hour debate which they have both had ample time to prepare for and which the American people are prepared to hear. One should not preclude the other. From this perspective, it seems obvious that Senator McCain is merely using this as an excuse to avoid the debate and/or as an attempt to revive his flailing campaign by appearing to be "the Maverick." Whatever his motivation may be, and in spite of what he says, we can be assured that it's political!

[smags72]

It's apples and oranges. The debate is about the presidential campaign, which is of course going to be confrontational and partisan. They can work together to solve the economic crisis separately from the debates, just like they have been doing in the Senate during their campaigning - it's really no different. The President must be able to multi-task - so should the candidates if they want the job - these debates are job interviews and we are the interviewers.

[PNK]

DO NOT CAVE OBAMA!! The Debate should happen, there is no better time for it.

With McCain's numbers dropping, he is SCARED!! No way should Obama agree, he needs to hold to it, firm, baby, firm.

[StillIRise]

Obama is scheduled to announce that the debate should go on! He said that a presidential candidate should be able to multi-task!

[Oldtt]

If Obama were to dismiss McCain's proposal with such a cutesy remark, he would come to regret it. I assume he will be smarter than that.

[isnoozen]

I think one of the biggest reasons Mccain's suspending his campaign temporarily, is that both he AND Bush are scheduled to be in Reno next week.... He's not about to be appearing with the loser....

[ReelBusy]

I'm so ready for the debates.

Is there a point spread?

MCCAIN & PALIN in BEAUTY & the BEAST
Featuring the McCain Economy Chorus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiItoHftv4A

[UpstateNY]

Just heard that the McCain campaign wants to postpone the debate. Can they do that?

They're only doing that because their campaign is in the dumps, McCain is losing control and the Sarah Palin trick isn't working any longer. They should not be allowed to do this - this debate and this election are more important than ever!

The McCain campaign used a hurricane to keep Bush/Cheney out of their convention, now they are using a real financial disaster to keep McCain from have to sit across from Obama and let the country see these two side-by-side. It shouldn't work!

[JADE2002]

i just got out of class upstate NY and heard that too, he wants to address the financial crisis- but McBush- thought there was no financial crisis- THE FUNDAMENTALS OF OUR ECONOMY ARE STRONG!

[usacicsass]

Obama is preparing for the debate by making sure that his teleprompter his loaded with the correct information.

[psychmaj323]

This shows what an idiot you are, you don't use teleprompters in a debate. Secondly, for the most part Obama either uses notecards or he memorizes his speeches. He doesn't really use teleprompters.

[smags72]

He actually does use teleprompters. He does memorize his speeches, but the teleprompters are there for a reason - to PROMPT him if he loses his place or needs a reminder of the next point. Why is that so bad? McSame uses index cards and looks at them WAY too much. As an actor, I WISH I had a teleprompter on stage with me!

OBAMA/BIDEN 08!

Yes we can!

[StillIRise]

Apparently, McCain's teleprompter broke down and he's lost his notes, since he has made the unprecedented move of calling upon Obama to cancel the debates, and wants us to believe that he suddenly needs to be back in congress to work on the energy crisis ... as if his presence there alone will make the difference! Palin's not the only one who's not prepared!!!

[Juneau1]

AND your point is?

[Alonso Quijano]

How much experience debating did Abraham Licoln have before the Lincoln-Douglas debates?

I assume that Obama had more experience than Abe.

By the way, Obama already HAS more years of experience in elective office than Abe did when he was elected President, even though Abe was about 51 to Barack's 47.

[dagnew]

CNN just announced that McC wants to postpone Friday's debate because of the economic crisis. He's also suspending his campaigning and going back to Washington to deal with the crisis and says O should do the same.........

[ProudLiberalDemocrat]

It's 3am, and John McCain wants to keep sleeping....by asking the other guy, President Bush, to form a commission.....

President's have much to do all the time. It's called multi-tasking. If John McCain cannot be a Senator by day, and by night be running for President by participating in a debate (that he doesn't seem to need to prepare for any), then how can this OLD MAN think he can earn my vote.

It's 3am America, WAKE UP, neither John McCain nor Sarah Palin are capable of anything more than throwing stones at their opponent!!

[haveitoldyoulately]

How honorable to want to postpone the debate to return to Washington to fix ALL......Will he be taking all his Fannie Mae staffers with him? Or maybe using them as examples

[Oldtt]

It's a neat move by McCain, but I think he's right on this. Unlike most situations, The Senate has a direct role to play in what could be a major economic crisis, and both Senators should be attending to business in what has to be a bipartisan solution rather than be seen cutting each other up on national TV.

[ReelBusy]

How about they do their work during the day and debate at night like they were supposed to?

MCCAIN & PALIN in BEAUTY & the BEAST
Featuring the McCain Economy Chorus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiItoHftv4A

[StillIRise]

He can't walk and chew gum at the same time? Both senators are working on a bipartisan solution to the economic crisis, even as we speak. Yet, only one seems to be prepared to also address the American people tomorrow evening in a debate, as has been scheduled for some time. The other is merely using the energy crisis as an excuse to avoid the debate.

Sarah Palin isn't prepared to confront the media.
John McCain isn't prepared to confront his opponent.

It's that simple!

[pandag]

McCain has no valid reason for postponing the debate. It is a shoot from the hip response, reactive, scary trait in a potential "leader". There is no valid reason other than to create the "image" of doing something as if he could really do something & what, doesn't he "trust" the republican "leadership" in the White House to handle this, hmm? Does he somehow think he's already got the job?!?!? What about the other votes he's missed whilst on the campaign trail. IMO, the ONLY reason he is doing this is to "show" that he is being "presidential" and hoping that no one will notice the "emperor's new suit of clothes" as it were. I believe this is also called a "smoke screen". Asking Obama indeed. Reminds me of the Support the Troops bit, but of course it was never about supporting the troops, we all support the troops, we just did not support the war. His cheap political bag of tricks is deep & he doesn't care how far down he has to reach to grab something. And what about his bragging of bring the most difficult person in Washington to work with? Like is that supposed to be a good thing? In this day and age give me Obama's considered rational thinking & approach to deal with this complex world. We don't need an aging prima donna adding fuel to the fire. McCain's like this administration, just can't believe what they will do next to obliterate the truth.

[Omidal]

McCane is panicking.

Ok. He said he called Obama and Bushism + Congress to tell them that he wants to postpone the debate and return to Washington for the bailout bill.

Why the hell he did not wait for Obama's response until he made his announcement.

Is this the way you act Diplomatically.
Or.
This is just a political ploy

[ENOS]

I'm sure that regardless of McCain's preperation for this specific debate, his deep-seeded Millitary Industrial Copmplex brainwashing will make his answers for him.