Obama, Romney focus on 2nd debate preparations

U.S. President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney were immersed in intense debate preparations on Sunday for the upcoming second presidential debate as their campaigns entered into the home stretch. Obama hunkered down with his campaign advisers in Virginia while Romney went back from campaign events to his Boston home. Stakes have been raised for both candidates in their second face-off, only three weeks from the Nov. 6 election day. The incumbent has to win back the campaign momentum waned in his subdued performance during the first debate on Oct. 3, while the challenger expects another win on Tuesday night. Obama is making adjustments ahead of Tuesday's second debate and plans to be "aggressive" in the encounter, the Obama campaign's top strategist David Axelrod told Fox News on Sunday. Axelrod said Romney has "serially walked away from his own proposals," on which the president will challenge him in the second debate. Following the first debate which Romney has been viewed widely as the winner, the Obama campaign has accused Romney for allegedly being dishonest in repeating factual errors and changing positions from earlier, more conservative stances. The second presidential debate will be held next Tuesday in Hofstra University in Hemstead, New York state. The debate will take the form of a town hall meeting in which citizens will ask questions on foreign and domestic issues. Citizens on the scene will be undecided voters selected by the Gallup organization.