Pep Talk

Team Mitt Gets Real About Debates

By lowering expectations.

Debate season is upon us! Mitt Romney may have been a big fish in the wacky little pond that was the Republican primary debate season, but he’s in the big leagues now and his senior adviser, Beth Myers, wants to make sure he and his supporters know what they’re in for. Myers sent out a memo (of which New York magazine offers its own interpretation) to Mitt’s surrogates Thursday, basically warning them to keep expectations low as he faces “universally acclaimed public speaker” Barack Obama who bares a “significant advantage” based on his “ample rhetorical gifts.” In addition to noting that “President Obama is a uniquely gifted speaker, and is widely regarded as one of the most talented political communicators in modern history,” she also pointed out that the Prez has participated in eight one-on-one presidential debates compared with Romney's zero. Way to get the team pumped up, Beth!