Inside the 2012 Presidential Debates: Preparing the Candidates

In the past 50 years, televised presidential debates have become some of the most anticipated and consequential encounters on the road to the White House. The debates of 2012 were no exception. How did the campaigns approach debate preparation during this cycle? On February 7, 2013, the Institute of Politics convened the lead strategists and debate coaches from the Obama and Romney camps for a panel discussion on the techniques used in 2012 and the strengths and weaknesses of the candidates’ performances.