Hempstead, N.Y. — Before that memorable Denver showdown with President Barack Obama, Mitt Romney spent hours holding mock debates. He’d put on a dark suit, stand at a lectern in a hotel ballroom, and play-act with Senator Rob Portman of Ohio, who has been impersonating Democratic nominees in debate preparation since the Clinton years. To the surprise of Romney insiders, those sessions were inspired. Romney was good, and he thoroughly enjoyed the 90-minute run-throughs. Instead of merely reviewing material with his aides, as he did before the Republican-primary debates, Romney had a live foil, and it made all the difference. Ever since those initial mock debates in early September, Portman has been at Romney’s side, and since Saturday they’ve been at a hotel ballroom near Boston rehearsing for tonight’s debate.
Romney has adapted aspects of his practice routine to fit the town-hall format. The lecterns are gone, and Romney and his advisers have paid closer attention to the little things, such as his posture and his use of the space. They’ve discussed how he should walk around the carpeted stage, and how he’ll interact with the crowd. His advisers want him to be at ease, as he was in Denver, but they want him to be cautious. Town halls can be unpredictable, and they have never been Romney’s best setting. But the Romney team hasn’t spent too much time thinking about the audience. There is only so much you can do to prepare for about 80 undecided Long Islanders. Their real focus has been on President Obama. They expect him to be aggressive, and they want Romney to be ready.
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