Obama supporters gather for debate watch parties, hope to energize voters

MILWAUKEE -- As President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney take the stage in the presidential campaign's first debate Wednesday night, October 3rd, supporters of both candidates gathered across the state and nation, awaiting the remarks.

In Milwaukee, President Obama supporters planned a watch party for Wednesday night's debate. They say the first presidential debate is one of the highlights of the campaign -- and is hugely important.

President Obama and Mitt Romney will meet a total of three times to debate -- before voters take to the polls on November 6th.

During Wednesday night's debate, President Obama will try to contrast his vision for the country's economy with Mitt Romney's. President Obama's advisers say he will lay out a case for increased taxes on the wealthiest Americans and lower taxes on the middle class.

It's a message President Obama hopes will resonate in Wisconsin -- a key battleground state.

"This is a race that's being fought out in nine states including Wisconsin. We think it's an important state. We think we can do well in that state just like we did four years ago. We want to get our voters energized," President Obama's campaign adviser Robert Gibbs said.

The Obama campaign hopes to use Wednesday night's debate watch parties to reach out to volunteers.

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