Think of them as reluctant warriors. On Wednesday night, when President Obama and Mitt Romney meet on the debate stage in Denver, they will be taking part in a political ritual that dates back more than 50 years. But just because these two have agreed to debate doesn’t mean they have to like it. Or that they will capitalize on the opportunity it presents.
Both Obama and Romney share a sense of trepidation about going mano-a-mano on live television, and in different ways, this reticence may wind up boxing them in.
As many a presidential contender has learned, it is easier to lose a debate than win one. From Richard Nixon’s perspiration to Al Gore’s sighs, from Gerald Ford's premature liberation of Eastern Europe to George H.W. Bush glancing at his watch, the lesson is clear: Even well-seasoned candidates can stumble in the debate arena, generating gaffes that assume a life of their own, not just in the immediate post-debate chatter but for the ages. For any presidential debater, the cardinal rule is to avoid becoming part of the blooper reel.
Unlike such masters of the art as Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan, neither Obama nor Romney displays a natural affinity for engaging in a live faceoff with political opponents. Both of this year's leading players regard debates as a minefield to be tiptoed through, not a platform for showmanship and persuasion. They debate because they have to debate, not because they want to.
And for each man, this overabundance of caution could ultimately hinder more than help.
In Obama’s case, the obvious imperative is not to do anything in the debates to jeopardize what appears to be a growing lead in national and battleground state polls. For this reason alone, the President is likely to play a conservative game against Romney. Yet the debate stage can also be a launch pad, granting candidates access to some of the largest audiences of their careers — 50, 60, 70 million viewers in the U.S. alone.
Imagine the possibilities: Obama could go bold and make an impassioned case not just for himself but for a Democratic Congress, doing a Harry Truman number on the Republicans in front of the entire nation. Or he could deliver a surprise announcement about something he plans for his second term. Or he could challenge his opponent in a manner his opponent was not expecting to be challenged.
With the whole world watching, it's a shame to waste the megaphone. Still, we can understand why Obama might not care to run the risk.
Like Obama, Romney takes an inherently restrained approach to debating, though for him different factors come into play. Heading into the debate, Romney finds himself under intense pressure to use the event to reignite his floundering campaign. After the past month's steady drumbeat of bad news, Romney desperately needs a strong showing in Denver to reverse his fortunes.
