Emma Gray, 10/16/12

Associate Editor, HuffPost Women

Yes, a woman is moderating the presidential debate for the first time in over 20 years, and she's not skinny. And so, the body-bashing has begun.

Karen Dolan, 10/18/12

Fellow, Institute for Policy Studies

I want more than just a rope-a-dope and a knock-out punch. I want to hear the words: America is not broke, we just have our priorities wrong. Then, I will be able to cheer a victory as something that is a victory for all of us, not just for a candidate's campaign.

Lorraine Devon Wilke, 10/16/12

Writer of Sass & Sensibility

Ann Coulter wondered

Eric Boehlert, 10/16/12

Senior Fellow, Media Matters for America

For the final push of this campaign Mitt Romney is trying to reinvent himself as a moderate, less-scary Republican. And the press is helping him at every turn.

Nemat Shafik, 10/16/12

Deputy Managing Director, the International Monetary Fund

As the world economy continues to struggle, people are taking to the streets by the thousands to protest painful cuts in public spending designed to reduce government debt and deficits. This fiscal fury is understandable.

Eric Black, 10/16/12

Senior Writer, MinnPost

The Electoral College system further distorts the presidential campaign by causing the candidates to grant extra weight to the parochial needs of the swing states.

Alan Abramowitz, 10/16/12

Alben W. Barkley Professor of Political Science, Emory University

As if nervous Democrats didn't have enough to worry about, on the morning of the second presidential debate, USA Today and the Gallup Poll released a new poll of 12 swing states that shows Mitt Romney leading Barack Obama by 4 points among likely voters.

Amy J. Sennett, 10/16/12

Litigation associate, Washington, D.C. law firm

Whatever your feelings about Obama's failure to navigate the political backlash from his efforts to close Guantánamo, the illegitimacy of these continued detentions undermines America's national security in the same way that it did during the campaign four years ago.

Mike Lux, 10/16/12

Partner, Democracy Partners

It is obvious that his head has to be in the game tonight more than it was in the first debate. But the president has a fundamental choice he has to make going into tonight's debate and the entire three weeks left in this campaign.

Jeff Danziger, 10/16/12

Political cartoonist syndicated by the NYTimes worldwide

Donald Kerwin, 10/16/12

Executive Director, Center for Migration Studies

The persons affected by this provision belie that claim. They have gone through the proper legal channels. They are not jumping ahead in the line: Most have been in the line for years.

Anca Novacovici, 10/16/12

Founder and President, Eco-Coach

If you are in an organization that believes that sustainability is anti-business, consider that those who support the free market believe in shareholder wealth maximization and in growing their business.

Todd Fernandez, 10/16/12

Gay human rights activist

Even if you don't vote on gay issues, it is significant that the United States has declared to the world that gay rights are human rights.

Sharon Davies, 10/16/12

Executive Director, Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity

Far from squandering state and federal resources, expanding educational opportunity and producing the multiculturally competent citizens and leaders that our nation and world will need is an investment with limitless payoff.

Paul Abrams, 10/16/12

Last person on Earth not on Facebook

Go back to a few "persons-on-the-street", and end with: If the people who experienced your governance would never vote for you [show his 35 percent approval rating], even six years later, why would anyone in America make that mistake?

Adam Levin, 10/16/12

Founder, Credit.com and former director NJ Division of Consumer Affairs

Mitt Romney is the poster child of big business expediency, where truth is less important than closing the deal. And if he gets elected we'll see a reprise of the Wild West days that ended in the 2008 crisis.

Al Franken, 10/16/12

U.S. Senator from Minnesota

Gay and lesbian Americans have always been part of our communities. But over the course of the last generation, more and more of them have felt comfortable being truly honest about who they are. And, too slowly but very surely, it's changing our country for the better.