You have to remember that talking about faith and values comes naturally to Alabama politicians.

He's a rock star of the Christian right.

If you ask Alabama voters what Lucy Baxley stands for, you'd have a hard time getting a substantive answer. She's going to have to create a definition for herself before her opponents do it for her.

We don't know if attitudes were held prior to or largely shaped by it.

If he can answer questions about being a flip-flopper, show that he will be strong fighting terrorism, show he has a plan and will stick to it -- more than any sound-bite or witticism, that could make a difference in this election.

That's certainly something we expect from the president.

This is an exceptional cast even for us. People are pretty energized by all the personalities and personal histories involved.

At their most influential, debates probably move public opinion only a few percentage points. But that can be critical. This year is close to being the perfect storm for presidential debates having an effect.