HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (WKOW) -- The pressure is on the President to deliver a better performance in Tuesday's night second presidential debate.
President Barack Obama admitted his first debate was less than stellar, but the format at Hofstra University on New York's Long Island might favor him a little more, if he can connect with the audience. Republican challenger Mitt Romney hopes to continue his momentum after a good showing during the first debate.
The candidates will take questions from the audience about domestic and foreign policy. The audience members are undecided voters. CNN's Chief Political Correspondent Candy Crowley will moderate and has said she would also ask follow up questions. She says, "The challenge is that they've got to connect, not just with the people that are looking into the television and watching them, but to the people that are on the stage with them. They have to keep those folks in mind. It's a much more intimate and up close adventure with voters. The candidate that makes a connection with the person asking the question is also making a better connection with the person back at home."
Viewers and voters will also want to pay attention to the candidates' body language, since they won't be behind a podium. Democratic strategist and CNN contributor Paul Begala agrees with Crowley on the importance of connecting with the audience. "If you do that with empathy, compassion, understanding and cool strength. you will win the debate and the election," said Begala, who's a senior adviser for a pro-Obama super PAC.
Tune into www.wxow.com/live Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. for the early coverage leading up to the presidential debate scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ABC News will have post-debate reaction starting at 9:30 p.m. You can also watch the debate on WXOW-TV starting at 8:00 p.m.
