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Obama Readies for First Debate With McCain

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September 20, 2008 5:09 PM

ABC News' Sunlen Miller reports: Senator Barack Obama will spend three days in the battleground state of Florida preparing for Friday’s debate.

The democratic nominee will leave Chicago on Tuesday to set up debate prep shop in the Tampa area, complete with a litany of advisors in tow.

Friday's debate in Mississippi focuses on foreign policy – and Greg Craig, one of Obama's top foreign policy advisors - will play the role of John McCain in mock debate situation.

David Axelrod, Obama's Senior Advisor, said that Obama started debate prep last week - mostly reading during down times on the campaign trail.

Candidates regularly set up their debate prep operation in battleground states – Obama's choice of Florida follows a weekend of campaigning in the Sunshine state – and as most polls have him running neck-and-neck with John McCain.

"I'm confident that we’re going to win this thing," Obama said during a fundraiser in Miami on Friday night."I’ll tell you, we can win this thing without Florida, but boy, it's a lot easier if we win Florida. If we win Florida, it is almost impossible for John McCain to win."

September 20, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (236)

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Change, We can believe in --->

Change, We need ---->

Change, I want from your wallet for all my expensive programs.

Posted by: vs | Sep 20, 2008 5:29:16 PM

Change, We can believe in ---->

Change, We need ----->

Change, I need from your wallet for all my big programs

Posted by: vs | Sep 20, 2008 5:36:37 PM

Obama sounds READY!

Posted by: nsp | Sep 20, 2008 5:48:08 PM

Yes, we can. We can surely win this election in landslide if Florida is on our side and it will be to our side.

Posted by: I.A.T smith | Sep 20, 2008 5:50:05 PM

More stammering and stuttering talk from Obama. Obama ratio of talk/action = infinity.

Posted by: young_voter | Sep 20, 2008 5:51:26 PM

McCain = DISHONORABLE; Palin = SCARY!!!

Posted by: Howard Gallas | Sep 20, 2008 5:52:06 PM

Finally, a change from McCain debating himself every day!

OBAMA/BIDEN 08!!!

Posted by: Ed from MA | Sep 20, 2008 5:53:01 PM

vs - there hasn't been a president in history who was able to keep all his promises but the question to ask is "who is going to take care of this country best"? Republicans steer things one way - financially benefitting big business and giving tax breaks to big corporations (oil) and the democrats steer things more to us folks - you know, the workers of the country. We've seen what the republicans have done in the past eight years - bringing this country to its knees. Let's give the democrats a chance to make things better. Obama wants to lower taxes for people making under $250,000 a year and raise taxes for people making over $250,000 a year. I'm not going to argue with that. Living paycheck to paycheck ain't fun.

Posted by: counting crows | Sep 20, 2008 5:53:41 PM

He'll need the prep. He doesn't do so well without his teleprompter or speechwriter.

Posted by: s.b. | Sep 20, 2008 5:54:41 PM

1 trillion Mccain deregulation Keating/S&L
2 trillion McCain Bush Iraq war
3 trillion Mccain deregulation (again) Gramm

how can anyone say wtf is this guy doing running for office?

Posted by: dl(the real one) | Sep 20, 2008 5:59:04 PM

1 trillion Mccain deregulation Keating/S&L
2 trillion McCain Bush Iraq war
3 trillion Mccain deregulation (again) Gramm and all the other dereg lobbyists running his campaign...

how can anyone not say "wtf is this guy doing running for office?"

throw these bums out.

Posted by: dl(the real one) | Sep 20, 2008 6:00:42 PM

How can Obama still be talking about cutting taxes when they just spent $1.5 trillion bailing out the economy? Is he stupid?

Posted by: Ed | Sep 20, 2008 6:11:45 PM

Obama is finally back on track, thanks to media's relentless attack on Palin and a huge financial crisis.

It is ironic that the candidate who can only say "I will" but not "I did or I have done" relies on:
1. an economic crisis to get 3-point lead
2. a delay troop withdrawal to to make his judgment look right

3. a mob of haters to smear and discredit a governor with 86% approval rate so that he can look more experienced.

The liberal media's intolerance is appalling. interestingly, Obama's political career is up when America goes down.

Posted by: amy | Sep 20, 2008 6:14:19 PM

ed

did you ask the mccain campaign the same thing

lol

since that is the only thing they talk about.

Posted by: dl(the real one) | Sep 20, 2008 6:14:43 PM

amy

1 the economic crisis is actually why we elect Presidents not on the stuff Mccain has been throwing out there to take focus off that.

2. the delay story has been found out to be another lie...the guy who wrote is the same guy who is friends with Talibani that told us all about wmd and "treated as liberators" he is a stool for Cheney, Rove, and now mccain.

3. Palin had an 80% approval because the oil compnanies made a lot of money off us...Alaska is an oil and gas economy dependent state who saw record state financial numbers...

allowing Palin to do Obama's windfall profit tax, increase spend the State budget by 60% (that was all coming there even before she came to office) and still take the money from the rest of the country in earmarks at a per capita average that is 20 times the next governor in the country.

this is a joke

she is the worst decision by a presidential candidate in the history of our country...

and as for Mccain again

1st trillion Mccain deregulation Keating/S&L
2nd trillion McCain Bush Iraq war
3rd trillion Mccain deregulation (again) Gramm and all the other dereg lobbyists running his campaign...

how many trillions will his next lesson/flip take?

how can anyone not say "wtf is this guy doing running for office?"

throw these bums out.

Posted by: dl(the real one) | Sep 20, 2008 6:20:51 PM

Let's go Florida! We cannot afford to let the same people who voted for the mess we are in right now to get another four years of what they are asking for. They were confused and misled then, and looks like nothing has changed. Clearly we all need to be reminded of the issues at stake (health care, education, women's rights, economic policies...), not just for OURSELVES but for our children -- to give them a fighting chance to compete in the global economy.

This PhD graduate student, working three jobs to put herself through school is making the only logical choice this year. Obama/Biden '08

Posted by: nicole | Sep 20, 2008 6:33:09 PM

=====================================
dl, there is no one here reading your tripe but me. And I am smarter than a snail darter so you don't phase me.

Palin is the worst decision by a presidential candidate? Next to Hairplug Joe. They are trying to make him keep his trap shut until the election. If he mutters one more "STAND UP, Man" they will burst at the seams.

McCain has more experience on the economy in his little finger than Obammy has in his whole body. We don't count speaking before 200K Germans, who turned out for free beer. Obammy thought they could vote for him.

Yeah, that dummy Bush. So dumb he beat two smart guys, Gore and Kerry. What does that make them?


Palin/McCain - 08

Posted by: LarryMan | Sep 20, 2008 6:38:33 PM

Does Obama get to use a teleprompter at the debates? Apparently he can't talk without one to keep him on his talking points. If elected, will he refuse to meet with foreign dignitaries unless he is allowed to have a teleprompter?

Posted by: Barry In Las Vegas | Sep 20, 2008 6:43:40 PM

To everyone who wants the government out of their business: There is a long history of government staying out of life of the citizen, allowing them to interact with business alone. This failed. Look to the mid to late 19th century US history for this. Business left to itself ends up self serving, ultimately inhibiting the liberty of the people. That is why, after many long and hard fought battles, has government stepped in to protect the people from industrial capitalism. This is basic US history 101, and it is on the side of government regulation to temper business in order to protect the quality of the lives of the citizens.

Posted by: simon666 | Sep 20, 2008 6:52:30 PM

LarryMan---

Got news for you..McCain is on record stating that the economy is not his strong suit. And I agree!

We've seen where McCain's "experience" on the economy has taken America -- straight down the tubes. McCain's campaign is run by lobbyists and economic advisors the likes of which are responsible for the economic disaster we are not facing!

You like the mess we're in then by all means support McCain and vote for more of the same.

If you're ready for intelligent leadership and change then Obama is your man!

Just a reminder in case the most recent headlines are not reminder enough of the hole GOP leadership has dumped America in....George Bush has a 30%job approval rating and you're going to vote McSame into office? Seriously?

Posted by: KatiaK | Sep 20, 2008 6:54:33 PM

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