U.S. President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney are spending Tuesday preparing for their first nationally televised debate of the 2012 presidential race.

After several days of practice in his home state of Massachusetts, Mr. Romney arrived Monday in Denver, Colorado, the site of Wednesday's debate. The former governor told cheering supporters the debate is about “something bigger” than whether he or the president outduel each other.

Mr. Obama is spending another day with his campaign advisers at a resort in Nevada, where he arrived Sunday for his debate preparations.

Wednesday's debate at the University of Denver will be devoted to domestic issues, such as the economy and health care.

Foreign policy issues will be covered in the second and third debates, scheduled for October 16 and October 22.

Recent public opinion polls indicate Mr. Obama has a significant lead over Mr. Romney in many of the so-called swing states expected to decide the November 6 election. One of the most important swing states is Ohio, which began early voting Tuesday. No Republican has ever won the presidency without winning a majority of Ohio's electoral votes and no Democrat has won without Ohio since John F. Kennedy in 1960.

Mr. Romney has seen his popularity fall since a video surfaced earlier this month showing him telling wealthy supporters that 47 percent of Americans pay no taxes and consider themselves “victims” entitled to government support. He said these Americans will vote for President Obama “no matter what.”

Analysts say the debates could be Mr. Romney's best and last chance to revive his campaign and change the direction of the race.

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