The US presidential election is exactly three weeks away. Some Americans know whom they are voting for, others might not have made up their minds just yet. Now, it might help some people if they could directly ask the presidential candidates questions themselves, and that’s exactly what some people are going to be able to do tonight. It is the second US presidential debate. President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney will face off at Hofstra University in New York. CNN is part of this too. Candy Crowley, our chief political correspondent, is moderating(主持) tonight’s event. 

 

You might wonder why there aren’t any third party candidates, why there aren’t any other candidates in this debates. The group that organizes them has rules for who can participate based on how much support a candidate has. President Obama and Governor Romney are the only candidates who meet all of the requirements. Tonight’s debate will be different from the one two weeks ago. It’s a town hall format, that’s why audience members will get to ask the candidates questions directly. Athena Jones looks at what makes this format unique. 

 

Round two. President Obama and Governor Mitt Romney face off in their second debate Tuesday, a town hall moderated by CNN’s Candy Crowley who says the format presents unique challenges for the candidates. 

 

Now, 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 people that are on the stage with them, some 80 or so undecided voters as chosen by Gallup. So they have to keep those folks in mind, it’s a much more intimate and up close adventure with voters. 

President Obama is under pressure after his last turn on the debate stage got bad reviews. 

 

One bad debate is losing a battle. Two bad debates could very well mean he loses the war. 

 

I think you are going to see a very different President Obama this time around. He’s got to be seen as being aggressive, but yet he can’t be seen as being overly aggressive. 

 

Romney has enjoyed a post debate bounce in national polls, and a boost of confidence on the campaign trail. 

 

There is more energy and passion people are getting behind this campaign. 

 

At a town hall without a podium and with audience interaction, the candidate’s style and body language can take on added weight. At the first town hall style presidential debate in 1992, President George H. W. Bush repeatedly checked his watch, a sign some thought that he didn’t want to be there. Commentators said Bill Clinton walking towards the audience to answer a question about the recession highlighted his ability to connect with voters. One thing that can make it hard for a candidate to be aggressive is a question like this. 

 

Can we focus on the issues and not the personalities and the mud? 

 

Analysts say the format could be good for the president. 

 

He will absolutely be able to draw from that energy, from the energy of the public and the crowd. 

 

As for Romney - 

 

One of his big challenges during this entire campaign has been not being able to connect with the common man and woman and child. He’s got to be able to come across as connecting, he’s got to come across as genuine, as caring, as likable. 

 

The candidate that makes a connection with the person asking the question is also I think making a better connection with the folks back home.