OBAMA AND ROMNEY TO GO HEAD-TO-HEAD

President jokes before contest with Republican contender

LAS VEGAS: US President Barack Obama yesterday prepared for his first debate with Mitt Romney, saying the clash was about security for hardworking Americans, not rhetorical “zingers”.

Obama heaped pressure on his foe, who is angling for a dramatic turnaround for his ailing campaign in Wednesday’s showdown, before bunkering down in a resort to shake off his mothballed debating skills.

“The media is speculating already on who is going to have the best zingers… who’s going to put the most points on the board,” Obama told a rally of 11 000 people on Sunday.

“Governor Romney, he’s a good debater... I’m just okay,” Obama said tongue-in-cheek, as he upped the stakes for the big debate.

Obama sought to paint himself as the champion of the hurting middle class. “What I am most concerned about is having a serious discussion about what we need to do to keep the country going and restore security for hard-working Americans,” he said.

“That is what people are going to be listening for, that is the debate you deserve,” the president told the crowd.

Economically depressed Las Vegas suburbs are a key battleground, which may determine the outcome of the presidential contest in Nevada on November 6.

Republican Romney and Democrat Obama will meet in Denver, Colorado, on Wednesday night for the first of three debates crucial to shaping the remaining five weeks of the president’s bid for a second White House term.

Obama is leading by five points in the latest Gallup daily tracking poll and in most key battlegrounds.

But New Jersey Governor Chris Christie tried hard to give the Romney campaign some support.

“This whole race is going to be turned upside down come Thursday morning,” he said.

Romney’s vice-presidential choice, Paul Ryan, admitted to “some missteps” after Romney’s nightmare month in the White House race, and sought to moderate expectations, saying no debate would “make or break” the campaign.

Obama was “a very gifted speaker”, Ryan conceded. “The man’s been on the national stage for many years. This is Mitt’s first time on this kind of a stage.” – Sapa-AFP-Reuters