First debate this week

WLUK TV

Updated: Oct 1, 2012 9:18 PM

GREEN BAY — Potential Wisconsin voters get ready; another round of Presidential campaign stops is slated for the state this week, including President Obama.

All this as the presidential nominees get ready for their first debate.

As polls show a relatively tight race, the nominees still have several chances to try and win your vote.

Three presidential debates are scheduled for this month.

The first is on Wednesday, in just two days.

So with experts predicting a tight race, how much is at stake in these debates?

The Presidential Candidates will soon face off at the podium.

Experts say unless something big happens, don't expect much change at the polls.

"What is presented then only takes on significance if one of the two candidates makes a serious mistake," explained UW-Green Bay Communications Professor Tim Meyer. "Something that the other party candidate can jump on if not during the debate, certainly after the debate."

Looking back to the last election, the debates didn't provide a major boost.

Rasmussen polls show, in 2008, just before the first debate, Barack Obama was leading John McCain 50 percent to 45 percent.

After that debate, Obama only found a one point gain.

But some say even a small shift is important in a tight race.

Right now, Rasmussen Polls show President Obama is leading Mitt Romney by only three points, 50 percent to 47 percent

A Gallup poll shows Obama leading Romney by four points.    

Both sides agree the debate holds some weight, especially for Romney.

"He's got two very tough competing goals," said Democratic Strategist Celinda Lake. "To be likeable and to lay out a contrast. It's hard to be likeable when you're the attack dog."

"We've gotten to know Barack Obama. We've seem him as president four years. There's not a lot of room left on his canvas to paint," said Republic Consultant Alex Castellanos."Mitt Romney, he's still got a little white space on his canvas. He can still show us who he is and where he'd lead us."

But the clock is ticking, with only five weeks left until the election.

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