Hi folks! We'll be live chatting today's Town Hall style debate. Can the candidates connect with undecided voters? Join us!

1:48:22 to go... counting down to the debate!

Here's a piece I put on Huffpo in advance of the debate: "Love Thy Haters, Mr. President, and Kick Some Ass." We'll see. huffingtonpost.com

Great piece, Farai. I'm really hoping to hear more on domestic policy, immigration and guns included. I'm also nervous for everyone and everything.

Thanks! We should all be nervous... and all hope people bring some bad-assed questions to the table.

This is producer Katie Cooper live-chatting for "To The Point." Just settling in... which computer am I going to use? Mac or PC? I know snicker, snicker you Steve Jobs lovers.

The voters chosen to ask questions in tonight's townhall forum have to be "truly undecided," said Frank Newport, head of the Gallup Pol , which picked the participants.

Katie, maybe use both and see which one works better, settle the whole Mac vs. PC thing once and for all?

The participants all live in Nassau County on Long Island.

Rachel! I've got them both up, passing between the two.

I'm here and more decided on my Mac then I've ever been on any presidential candidate! But let's see how it goes tonight!

Oh, CNN is so excited that the candidates' wives are both wearing hot pink. Boy, "color commentary" is so hard.

Ooh, Wolfe called A. Rom the "First Lady Wannabe". Kinda snarkalicious..

"It's a format that works very well... because I have a lot of faith in the average citizens of the country." Frank Newport on the town-hall.

Betsy-- I'm totally undecided at this moment.

CNN started out by effing up her mic. Hang the DJ. (Just. Kidding.)

Maybe Obama shouldn't check Twitter at this moment..

Okay -- somehow my "share on twitter" isn't working. ANyone else?

What are people's tie predictions?

I'm here. Blue and red.

these aren't undecided voters, just uncommitted

Farai-- you have to click on edit, and paste there, then hit send

I love that right out the gate, people on Twitter are picking on Candy's appearance

All of these people are going to be either jobless or looking for a better job.

Good evening, everyone

Finally, America gets to find out what Long Islanders want, think, and feel. Well, maybe want and feel.

The recipe to creating jobs. Is it a secret recipe?

Mitt Romney better give that kid a Schedule C appointment in 2014.

If any of these people asks about the fiscal cliff, we'll know they're not real people.

Hello all. Who ARE these "undecided" Long Island voters??

President Obama unleashes the empathetic voice early.

Wow, notable difference between the President's approach to the kid and Romney's. Mitt empathized, Obama lectured -- and talks Detroit!

"Nice question, kid. When you said 'college,' I assumed you meant 'cars' and 'green energy.'"

Significant aesthetic stumble by the President on the first question. Tonally off.

Romney sking when Jeremy graduates -- total girlfriend's dad move.

POTUS talks about job creation; 5 million pvt sector jobs created in last 4 yrs; wants to bld manufacturing jobs, contrasts w/ Romney.

POTUS: new energy sources -- solar, wind, bio; reducing deficit by taxing wealthy; cutting war funds to rebuild infrastructure. #debates

@jstrevino: Romney aimed to answer the question, Obama aimed to summarize his stump speech.

Congratulations, Mr President: you, of the humble background, are letting the multimillionaire look more connected to working Americans.

Not sure that was the clearest statement from Romney on bankruptcy. Definitely sure Jeremy didn't ask about Detroit.

Step 1: empathize with real person. Step 2: on follow up, swing as hard as you can at opponent

"Governor Romney doesn't have a 5 pt plan he has a 1 pt plan.. people in the top 1 percent play by a different set of rules." POTUS #debates

wait- whoa. Twitter jsut slowed down big time.

The President's attack mode here works well before devoted crowds. Undecideds? Not as much.

Candy just stepped on Rom's desire to steamroll moderator.

You'd never know the President's EPA has been doing its best to squash the US energy boom he's touting.

convincing so far that these are real folks who are not camera ready

@genemaddaus: Hofstra's elevation has made them both feisty.

We now know for certain that Mitt got under the President's skin in Denver -- and he's still there.

The undecideds on CNN don't like when a candidate mentions the other candidate.

Romney says Obama is not Mr. Oil, Mr. Gas or Mr. Coal... Are those monikers that any candidate would want to have? Vote for me, Mr. Coal.

Gingrich wishes he was up there for the gas price question.

pushing $5.00 here in LA

Gary, they sound like monikers from "The Year Without A Santa Claus" #heatmiser #coldmiser

The President's contention that he's "encouraging" natural gas is just utterly false. Really a tremendous falsehood.

Obama: No magic natural gas.

Partisan Microphones: the Pres. Obama has a blue ring around his mic; Romney's has red

President now touting historically low oil imports, which is partially a byproduct of the awful economy he's presided over.

So how soon till they start swinging? I mean physically?

uh oh-- Candy take control

Don't pull a Berman-Sherman

Romney looks like he wants to hold Obama down and give him a haircut.

The President really should know better than to meander around this one.

Huge props to Candy Crowley for letting them duke it out.

Rachel - I almost expected a little pushing.

POTUS is much more in command of mic than before. He called Romney out as a flip-flopper on coal policy and they went at it. Fact check anyone?

Fact-checker needed to break up this passive-aggressive fight.

The Mitt Romney who owns the boardroom is here, ladies and gents.

One of these guys should start drilling a well right on stage.

*Romney drops mic*

Romney is obviously contemptuous of the President .... but the President obviously hates Romney. Big difference.

@garyrobertscott, "I drink your milkshake!"

he cant help himself. You're going to school whether you like it or not.

Mr. Wind vs. Mr. Gas.

POTUS "I'm all for pipelines... I'm not for ignoring the other half of the equation" of jobs from wind and solar. #debates

Whoa, whoa, whoa, Mitt -- you just chose to cede the initiative.

And then the President does the same!

Gov. Perry moment

I don't want reasons, Mr. Governor. I want specifics.

Mary -- undecided?

There's something about trembling uncommitted voters fumbling with note cards that makes candidates look shinier and more put together

The President is already well into dour-faculty-meeting territory. This is going to hinge on whether Romney follows him there.

Obama's jaw is clinching on the split screen

Obama thinking about which euphemism for liar to uncork on this.

Didn't know he was aware that people could make under $200,000 a year.

Did Romney just pick $25,000 out of the air?

Romney talks about investment income relief; POTUS talks abotu small taxpayers. So far, sounds like POTUS is making clearer case. Your thoughts?

"What I have also said" has to be one of Obama's most annoying verbal tics.

CLINTON DROP

@rachelhastings: #1

POTUS "I want to give middle class families...some relief." Says 98 percent held hostage to top 2 percent, via legislation. #debates

Obama hitting talking points, but is he drawing a contrast with Romney, who is aggressively running toward the middle?

Best Romney line of the night: "We don't have to live like this."

Those 3.5 million women would be pretty down on their luck if they were living in poverty and got pregnant and couldn't get an abortion, huh?

This exchange right now is won by Obama if it stays actuarial: and it's won by Romney if it goes moral.

Big Bird and Planned Parenthood: the President's entire campaign in one sentence.

Not to go all psychological here, but the body language/facial expression are quite different this time.

On Twitter, someone said Romney's plan smacks of 9-9-9.

Another one-on-one tango: if the president stick Romney on which deductions he'd kill?

THEN WHAT IS YOUR PLAN

CNN's undecided voters have no opinion on moms and grandmas.

Mitt needs to get that he ain't bossing Candy. Best to work with her, not against. Steamroll the guy you're actually running against.

What does everyone think? Did Romney or Obama come out clearer on that exchange (and aren't town halls supposed to be too tame for this?)?

That question was entirely set up so Obama could talk Lily Ledbetter... right?

POTUS talks about his single mom; and his grandmother hitting glass ceiling; and his signing of Ledbetter act. "Women are increasingly the breadwinners in the family." It's not just women's issue but family issue.

I haven't seen anything this joyless since "Das Boot."

The Donald has spoken: ‏@realDonaldTrump So far @MittRomney is winning big.

Binders full of women?

Caitlin, they're really tiny women.

twitter.com

Was the answer to ask businesses to hire more women?

Reminds me of a baseball card collection... or garbage pail kids.

I have $20 for the candidate who vows to preserve women's competitive advantage in the labor market.

while we're on the topic of women...

What about Plan B, Obama?

Amazing how format change can change a debate. I think POTUS wants it more but also talking to people v. just moderator suits him. Even camera work is making Obama look massive. I'm not judging on content here, just style.

So wait what about the equal pay thing?

"Governor Romney, I am an undecided voter who hates George W. Bush and Republicans."

Obama, putting time keepers to work! Jobs!

.... but about George Bush, so glad you asked

Oh, so now you do think I should have contraceptives? Cool thanks

What should happen: "You may not like it, but I'm like George W. Bush in one big way: I'll get unemployment down to 5%."

So Romney thinks Bush was too friendly with foreign nations?

I don't think George W. Bush is liking this.

George Bush is painting dog pictures, not sweating this.

There goes the Bush endorsement

pawnation.com

I'm different than Bush. Did you see how small his tax cut was?

Like I said about my friend's orchid: nice plant.

ok, wait this is a trip

Dear Mr. President, could you please hit this softball?

And now we get to the point where Barack Obama praises George W. Bush, who is suddenly an acceptable moderate. You win, @JonahNRO.

Turns out Costa at NRO was serious: Romney's people really do think he won Denver with better data. It shows now, and not in a good way.

Is there a rule that says we watch audience/questioners responses to the candidates?

To repeat what everyone is saying on Twitter: Romney doing well in his second debate, Obama doing well in his first.

This is a draw so far, but note that the President is at his best, and the challenger is underperforming.

twitter.com

Romney goes back to five point plan, pretty much avoiding legacy issue re: Bush. He could have invoked Reagan. No Crawford BBQ for you, Mitt.

Romney setting Obama up for "GOP obstructionist Congress" response?

Obama drinking refrain "me too". Romney on feet. Crowley reigns in POTUS. Romney counters by quoting failures of Obama, incl deficit and immigration. (Some bipartisan failures, some not.)

From the Planned Parenthood action fund: "FACT CHECK: Romney supports policies that would allow employers to deny birth control coverage to employees"

michaelscherer ‏@michaelscherer
Obama did not say that by now we would have unemployment at 5.4%"

The squiggly lines on CNN make me question my judgment.

REAGAN DROP

"The President has tried, but his policies haven't worked."

This is the point where Romney should stop going to the fact sheet. I think it stopped his momentum.

Romney doing well on answering this guy; may increase his African-American vote by 20%.

The past five minutes need to be a paid Romney-campaign infomercial. This is what we came for.

This is way better than the last debate. Much more engaging, which unfortunately makes pithy commentary much harder.

"Governor Romney, what will you do on this issue that many people who have no intention of ever voting for you care passionately about?"

Big chance for Obama to tout his record solving the immigration problem, what with Mexicans leaving the US because of the awful economy.

"What I have also said." Drink.

and I raise you your obstructionist Congress. Gary's been waiting.

So we come to the point in American history where a sitting President denounces "gangbangers."

President also promises to eliminate dweebs, metalheads, losers, dorks, and tools.

Well then what are YOU going to do, Mr. Romney?

so far, as expected, undecided voters in a state like NY, tend to be more blue.

Remember when I lost to John McCain? Oh, wait... please don't.

Mitt: I will go further than the President, and clear America's neighborhoods of bronies, furries, LARPers, and Trekkies.

Obama: "THE WORLD CAN'T WAIT FOR MY WORDS."

Have you looked at your pension? HAVE YOU LOOKED AT YOUR PENSION???

the world's most aggressive financial planner

So wait, what was the question? Self-deportation? I thought it was PENSIONS!

somebody start up @obamaspension please

This Lightworker debating Mitt was more threatening back when he was hectoring Leonidas.

So... Is China a good investment, then?

"Hi, Mr President, I work in an ordinary American workplace where we discuss ambassadorial security around the water cooler."

On to Libya....

Barack Obama says we should be sure he cares about Ambassadors, because they're not just America's, they're HIS. #humblebrag #whaaa

@jstrevino: that's not a common thing?

If Mitt doesn't scorch the President to death right now, on this, he doesn't deserve to be President. This is total softball.

you're going to have to answer the Benghazi security question. so what are you waiting for?