Seriously, Will Mitt Agree to 3 Debates?

[romantico]

So, I've been talking to some co workers of mine. Most are Obama supporters but we have a couple Romney supporters as well. What started out as a joke before the conventions is really becoming a serious question.

Do you REALLY think Romney will agree to all three debates? We joked at first knowing he would, but looking at how he handles things and how people are seeing him now I am beginning to wonder. Do you think his campaign manager and workers see him like they saw Sarah Palin? I predict if the first debate goes really bad and Obama destroys him, then he will call off the other two.

He'll blame the media and say he is not getting a fair shot and how they asked Obama all the easy questions and how the moderators are bias and so on.

I also would not be surprised to see the Romney Campaign ask for the questions beforehand so Mitt can rehearse his answers. I can easily see them doing this for Mitt. So, how real is the situation or do you think he will go through with all three debates? If he bombs on all three and Obama is clearly the winner I'm sure he could also spin as if he was the winner and he won. Thoughts?

[zbdent]

1. Retroactively ...

and only AFTER November 6 ...

[sakabatou]

2. No idea.

[Angry Dragon]

3. If he can not handle debates, he sure can not handle people throwing bombs at Americans

[nolabear]

4. If he doesn't, he loses. On the other hand, if he does,

he loses.

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. With himself, or Pres. Obama?

Seriously, he has no choice. To weasel out of them would be the end for him.

[Nye Bevan]

6. The guy who's behind *always* wants debates.

Because he hopes the other guy will screw up (which isn't likely in Obama's case).

BTW I'm really looking forward to when someone with a pre-existing medical condition asks Romney why he wants to let insurance companies refuse to cover him.

[DrewFlorida]

7. Mitt will probably insist that Obama not mention his tax returns!

[andym]

8. Of course Romney will agree to all 3 debates-- he's behind

It's his only chance to get a breakthrough. Of course, he is more likely to achieve a campaign ending blunder.....

[former-republican]

9. Exactly , it's the other way around OP

If the polls stayed the same the President would rather not debate.

Debates can turn a winning campaign into a losing one.
President Obama is very sharp and I don't see that ever happing but it is Always a possibility.

[Blue Belle]

10. They will do what they did with W and with Palin...

They will lower the bar so low that all he has to do is show up and pronounce his name and it will exceed expectations.

[Honeycombe8]

11. He already has, hasn't he? The moderators have been selected, the dates selected...

I don't know if the topics have been selected yet.

[Tx4obama]

15. Yes, topics/format are set already too.

United States presidential election debates, 2012
-snip-

The moderators for the debates were announced on August 13, 2012.[3][4] All four debates will take place between 9 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. EDT (6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. PDT).

First (domestic policy)
Wednesday, October 3; Magness Arena, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado[1]
Moderator: Jim Lehrer

Vice presidential (domestic and foreign)
Thursday, October 11; Norton Center for the Arts, Centre College, Danville, Kentucky[1]
Moderator: Martha Raddatz

Second (town-meeting format)
Tuesday, October 16; David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex, Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York[1]
Moderator: Candy Crowley

Third (foreign policy)
Monday, October 22; Wold Performing Arts Center, Lynn University, Boca Raton, Florida[1]
Moderator: Bob Schieffer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election_debates,_2012

Edited to add...

Here's more info/details regarding the questions: http://www.debates.org/index.php?page=format

[salin]

12. Just like that bubble convinced itself that Ryan was a game changer...

and next that their convention would be a game changer...
there is already talk that Romney is great at debates (I know... did they even watch the primary debates?) I would bet that they agree to three (over confidently) - but after one there may be some reason to back out of at least one of the other two.

[Hoyt]

13. He can't run from debates. But, you might be right about pre-debate stuff.

His handlers will pound right wing responses into Willard.
What I'm concerned about is he'll turn moderate in debates, figuring solid right has nowhere to go other than some militia compound or him.

But, I'm not betting money on it. It will be interesting, whatever happens.

[Tx4obama]

14. The debates are already scheduled and agreed upon.

There's no way that Romney won't show up for them.

And NO the campaigns/candidates cannot get the questions beforehand.

The Commission on Presidential Debates sets some pretty strict rules that all the parties have to adhere to.

[Brother Buzz]

16. Well, let's say, hypothetically, he doesn't show

Obama would have a field day debating an empty chair