6 ways Mitt Romney can win the first presidential debate

Romney is getting lots of unsolicited advice on how to beat President Obama in the crucial first debate on Wednesday. A look at the most useful tidbits

Mitt Romney speaks during a rally at Valley Forge Military Academy and College on Sept. 28: Just two days away from his first presidential debate against President Obama, Romney reportedly ha
(Image credit: AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Pollsters tell us that the presidential debates don't really have much of an effect on who wins the White House, but that's neither accurate nor, frankly, very much fun, says Robert Draper in GQ. In fact, "all sorts of things can happen — most of them bad — when two of the world's most insulated creatures are suddenly thrust into an oppressive atmosphere consisting of a desolate stage, grim-faced inquisitors, a stone-silent live audience, and an invisible American electorate monitoring every blink and stammer." Whoever comes out ahead, especially in the first debate, will probably win in November. That's great news for Mitt Romney, says surrogate Chris Christie, the Republican governor of New Jersey. Romney's "had a tough couple of weeks," but he'll nail Wednesday night's debate and "this whole race is going to turn upside down come Thursday morning." Here are six things Romney can do to make Christie's confident — and off-message, for a team that wants to lower expectations — prediction come true:

1. Romney needs a memorable zinger

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