A Couple Words Before the Debate Starts

First, I'm not planning to liveblog this. Nor did I make it to the Highland watch party.

There are two possible strategies Obama could have going in. First, he could think that he essentially needs only to hold serve. That he has scored enough in the early games (and has broken Hillary a time or two) so that he need not take any real risks. Basically, if he avoids a gaffe, he will continue to coast to the win, or at least a strong finish here and a win in Texas.

Second theory, he needs to break Hillary -- he can't remain essentially tied. He needs to take a couple of risks, including the risk of a gaffe and the risk of alienating a chunk of the electorate.

What will be most interesting to me is what sort of gameplan we can divine by how Obama presents himself.

See you on the other side.