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Debate 101: Candidates Spar With Kerry, Portman

John Kerry, Rob Portman channel rivals during dress rehearsals

By Liam Carnahan,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 3, 2012 1:03 AM CDT

(Newser) – While Mitt Romney and President Obama are busily downplaying tonight's debate, they're just as furiously preparing to spar live on stage at the University of Denver. On Sunday, Romney ran a full run-through of the 90-minute debate at an empty arena in Boston, with Rob Portman playing the role of Obama, reports the Wall Street Journal. Apparently the senator did a good job, since Romney said at times he wanted to kick Portman out of the room. "I will never debate Rob Portman again," Romney joked.

And while Obama has poked fun at Romney's intense preparation, he himself has been hunkered down in Las Vegas since Sunday honing his debate skills in front of an audience of advisers, with John Kerry channeling his inner Romney. "The president recognizes it as one of the biggest audience he'll have between now and November," says a spokeswoman. Click for what you need to know about tonight's debate.

Stand-ins run through a  rehearsal for tonight's presidential debate at the University of Denver.
Stand-ins run through a rehearsal for tonight's presidential debate at the University of Denver.   (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
kawahchan
Oct 3, 2012 12:30 PM CDT
The 2014 Gov. RICK PERRY Report: Tonight we can tell WHO really had been studying in Harvard before, and WHO is just a baloney MBA !
 

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