First Presidential Debate 2012 (Creative Commons)

The stakes are high in the next presidential debate slated for tomorrow night in New York. According to the Politico/George Washington University Battleground Poll, Mitt Romney leads 50%-48% in the 10 top "battleground states:" Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Barack Obama once led most polls, but after his lackluster performance and Romney's perceived victory in the first debate on Oct. 3 the presidential race is a dead heat. 

Obama's back is against the wall and he must rebound in this next debate or Romney will keep bouncing further up the polls on the heels of his debate bumps. After admitting defeat in the last round, the Obama campaign is promising a more aggressive Obama, but with the debate's town-hall format requiring candidates to display a connection with voters in the audience and exhibit a likability factor, will that tactic work?

Advisers to the president say Obama will tout his record over the other side's rhetoric. And with lowered expectations putting the incumbent in a position where even a slight improvement will be seen as a victory in a clash of style over substance, his debate prep may not need to be going as "great" as he claims it is.

Read More Debate Coverage here.

Follow Executive Producer Chima Simone on Twitter here.