President Barack Obama, Mitt Romney debate schedule: President says he's 'just okay' at debating

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President Barack Obama says he's 'just okay' at debating, as his campaign continued trying to lower expectations ahead of his first face-off with Republican Mitt Romney.
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Posted: 10/01/2012

By: JULIE PACE, Associated Press

LAS VEGAS - President Barack Obama says he's "just okay" at debating, as his campaign continued trying to lower expectations ahead of his first face-off with Republican Mitt Romney.

Speaking at an evening campaign rally Sunday, Obama graded his GOP opponent as "a good debater." The candidates will compete in their first of three debates Wednesday.

The president says Americans deserve a discussion focused on what the candidates would do to keep the country growing and restore middle class security.

Obama spoke to more than 11,000 people gathered at a high school in Las Vegas. The rally was aimed in part at rallying Hispanic voters and featured a performance by the Mexican rock band Mana.

The president is staying in Nevada until Wednesday, holding intensive debate preparations with top advisers .