According to the Associated Press (AP), on the eve of the biggest political debate of his life, Republican Tea Party (GOTP) presidential nominee Willard Mitt Romney’s saying the presidential debate won’t be about “winning or losing” but instead it will be a chance for the candidates to describe the “pathway” on which they’d like to take the country. Followed of course by voters deciding who won and lost, who’ll get their votes and who’ll be sitting at home come January.

“People want to know who’s going to win, who’s going to score the punches, and who’s going to make the biggest difference in the arguments they make,” Willard mewed to supporters. “There’s going to be all the scoring of winning and losing and, you know, in my view, it’s not so much winning and losing or even the people themselves, the president and myself, it’s about something bigger than that.”

“These debates are an opportunity for each of us to describe the pathway forward for America that we would choose and the American people are going to have to make their choice as to what kind of America they’d want.”

So, Willard’s afraid he’s going to get his clock cleaned in the debate and he’s essentially trying to lower expectations before hand; he’s sounding like the last place high school football coach going up against the first place team, “Just remember men, it’s not about who wins or loses, it’s how you play the game.”

Interestingly enough, Willard’s words are clashing with those of his own staff and the plethora of conservative pundits who’re counting on the debates to rescue Romney’s sinking campaign.

Romney’s spent countless hours prepping for the big moment, and has reportedly been practicing “zinger” delivery, hoping for a Reaganesque, “there you go again moment”, problem being however, he’s not Ronald Reagan and the President Obama isn’t Jimmy Carter.

In the end, it doesn’t really matter if Willard Romney thinks the debates are about winning or losing, it’s about what the American people think; if Romney fails to win a decisive victory in tonight’s debate it’ll become virtually impossible – if it isn’t already – for him to win come November. This debate, for Romney, is absolutely about winning or losing, this is where he has the chance to resuscitate a dying campaign, and if he can’t you might as well attach the toe tag.