–Obama Expected To Say Romney’s Econ Plan Will Repeat Bush Era Mistakes
–Romney Certain To Hammer President For Weak Economy, Large Deficits
–Polls Show Obama With Larger Lead In Key Swing States

By John Shaw

WASHINGTON (MNI) – In their first debate Wednesday evening,
President Barack Obama and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney
are expected to clash sharply on economic policy, offering starkly
different perspectives on how to cut the budget deficit, regulate the
financial sector, and revive the economy.

Obama and Romney will square off Wednesday at 9 p.m. EDT for a
90-minute debate, the first of three presidential debates.

During the debate, Obama is likely to assert that he inherited an
economy in free-fall and has helped to stabilize it.

Obama is almost certain to say that Romney’s agenda of additional
deep tax cuts and large defense spending increases are little more than
a doubling down on the fiscal mistakes of the Bush era, when the U.S.
shifted from the largest budget surpluses in history to massive
deficits.

Romney is certain to accuse Obama of lackluster economic
stewardship and argued that the current administration is to blame for
the nation’s sluggish growth and a string of trillion dollar annual
budget deficits.

Apart from these broad themes, the candidates are likely to clash
on financial regulation, the recent actions of the Federal Reserve, tax
reform, Medicare reform, and how to boost job growth.

Regarding the Fed, Romney has joined many Republicans in leading a
scathing attack on the central bank. He scorched the recent Fed plan for
additional quantitative easing as providing the economy little more than
a “sugar high.”

Most polls show the battle between Romney and Obama to be very
close, with the election likely to be decided by the outcome in less
than a dozen swing states.

In terms of national polls, most show the president with a narrow
lead over Romney. A composite of national polls by Real Clear Politics
released Wednesday shows Obama with a 49% to 46% lead.

In its composite of polls in key states, RCP shows Obama leading
Romney 49% to 46% in Colorado, 49% to 46% in Florida, 49% to 45% in
Iowa, 50% to 45% in Nevada, 50% to 44% in New Hampshire and 51% to 44%
in Wisconsin.

The RCP composite poll shows Obama and Romney tied 48% to 48% in
North Carolina and 44% to 44% in Virginia.

The current state-by-state polling shows Obama with a 332 to 206
lead in the Electoral College.

Both Obama and Romney are seeking the 270 electoral votes
needed to secure the presidency on November 6.

A number of factors could influence the final outcome, including
the final two employment reports that will be released before election
day, and events overseas.

Obama and Romney will debate tonight in Denver, Colorado and then
debate again on Oct. 16 in Hempstead, New York, and Oct. 22 in Boca
Raton, Florida.

Vice President Joe Biden will debate the GOP’s vice presidential
nominee, Congressman Paul Ryan, on Oct. 11 in Danville, Kentucky.

** MNI Washington Bureau: (202) 371-2121 **

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