I also think the debate's importance is highly exaggerated. Since it will run on all major networks, many will watch because there's little else to watch. This year, 111 million people watched the Superbowl, which ran on only one network. In 2008, 52.4 million watched the first Obama-McCain debate. In 1980, more than 80 million people watched the Jimmy Carter-Ronald Reagan debate.

Still, tens of millions of viewers is nothing to sneeze at, so the question may be whether Mitt can do anything at this point to overcome his earlier mis-steps about the 47% ("My job is not to worry about those people. I’ll never convince them that they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives”) or these gems?

TAMPA, Fla. (Feb. 1, 2012) -- In an interview with CNN, Romney noted that he is "not concerned about the very poor," citing the social safety net for that segment of the populace.

DETROIT, Mich. (Feb. 24, 2012) -- While speaking before the Detroit Economic Club at Ford Field, Romney listed not two, not three, but four American-made cars that he and his wife, Ann, owned. Among the vehicles: "a couple of Cadillacs."

Here's a fun version from 1985: