Friday, March 29, AD 2024 11:00am

Debate Advice-Round Two

 

 

 

I posted debate advice for Mitt Romney prior to the first debate which may be read here.  My advice for round two is as follows:

1.  Don’t Get Cocky-You had an exceptionally good first debate.  Enjoy it and forget it.  That was round one of a three round fight, and who is left standing at the end of the third round is how you determine the victor.

2.  Don’t Sit on a Lead-  That is what Obama tried to do in round one and it was a disaster.  Don’t make that elementary mistake.

3.  This is a Townhall Meeting-We have Joe and Jane Citizens asking the questions and that is a challenge.  The media is predictable, ordinary citizens are not.  Listen closely to the questions and answer them. Ignoring questions at a townhall can be ruinous, especially if they are inane.

4.  Aggressive Obama-After his fairly passive performance at the last debate, Obama will probably come out full of fight.  That can work to your advantage at a townhall if Obama comes across as over the top before a live audience.  After the Biden debacle I think he will probably avoid this, but don’t be surprised if he has flashes of temper and be ready to capitalize on them.

5.  Jobs, Jobs, Jobs-You can bet that almost every person in that townhall will have a friend or relative who is either unemployed or underemployed.  Pledge to turn the economy around and put America be back to work.  Be detailed as much as time allows.  People were impressed the first go round at your breadth of knowledge and your ideas.  Play off of those strengths.

6.  Look Like you are Enjoying This-Remember Bush at the townhall in 1992 when he glanced at his watch?  Asking for electoral death.  You obviously were having a whale of a good time at the first debate.  Let that come through again, and that is half the secret of winning a townhall.

7.  Libya-Hit this if it comes up.  Obama was clearly engaged in a coverup to avoid admitting during the election campaign that Al Qaeda was still a threat.  Call him out on it.

8.   China and the Debt-Your formulation of having as your criteria whether it was worth borrowing money from China to have the federal government spend on something resonated with the public.  Use it again if you have the opportunity.

9.  47%-Obama will be practically screaming this.  Admit that it was a bone headed remark, similar to Obama talking about small town people bitterly clinging to their guns and religion, and state that the number one goal of the Romney administration is to free people from Government dependence by putting them back to work.

10. Be affable and relaxed-Obama looked dour and tense in the first debate, while you looked affable and relaxed.  Repeat.

0 0 votes
Article Rating
6 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
T. Shaw
T. Shaw
Tuesday, October 16, AD 2012 5:44am

Be humble. Work harder.

Imagine the CNN vetted Obama-worshiping college kids and well-to-do socialists of Nassau County and NYC . . .

Romney: Tell them that adding up charitable donations and income taxes, your “tax rate” is 58% and (for innumerate liberals and public school grads) that means you keep 42% of your income.

Pinky
Pinky
Tuesday, October 16, AD 2012 9:49am

I predict that President Obama will have a good enough night for Donna Brazile to declare him the winner.

Greg Mockeridge
Greg Mockeridge
Tuesday, October 16, AD 2012 5:17pm

All Mitt Romney has to is be himself and let Obama be himself. And that’s why Romney won and Obama lost the last debate.

trackback
Tuesday, October 16, AD 2012 7:33pm

[…] Debate Advice, Round Two – Donald R. McClarey, The American Catholic […]

trackback
Monday, October 22, AD 2012 5:30am

[…] gave debate advice to Mitt Romney for his first two presidential debates here and here.  Here is my advice for the final round […]

trackback
Monday, October 22, AD 2012 8:50am

[…] gave debate advice to Mitt Romney for his first two presidential debates here and here.  Here is my advice for the final round […]

Discover more from The American Catholic

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

Scroll to Top