Debate performances matter. Tonight’s debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney couldn’t be more important. In the Town hall format tonight, Obama can counter-act some of the areas he was ridiculed about during Debate #1: he doesn’t have to look at Romney, he doesn’t have to stand there looking stupid – he can walk around a bit and relax and, he can engage the audience a bit. Obama does tend to do well in these kinds of circumstances.

Of the 80 undecided voters in the Town hall audience, some ask questions. It’s a completely different dynamic than the first face-off between the president and the Republican nominee.

“The challenge is that they’ve got to connect, not just with the people that are looking into the television and watching them, but to the people that are on the stage with them,” the debate’s moderator, CNN Chief Political Correspondent Candy Crowley, said.

“They have to keep those folks in mind. It’s a much more intimate and up close adventure with voters. The candidate that makes a connection with the person asking the question is also making a better connection with the person back at home,” added Crowley, who’s also the host of CNN’s “State of the Union.”

No podium to hold you up or hide behind tonight, so we’ll get to watch body language, which is always fun. Remember when Al Gore invaded George W. Bush’s space while he was answering a question during a debate in 2000? I loved that moment.

So some thoughts about tonite:

How aggressive will Barack Obama be? Obama needs to look like a fighter since he looked Michelle-whooped last time. He needs to look like he actually wants to be POTUS again — be a little energetic there BO!

Watch for the lies about Barack Obama’s policies working. Watch for “taxing the rich” and “shared sacrifices” language. Watch for efforts to discredit Romney as anti-middle class and diminishing Romney’s success and accomplishments.

Watch for an interfering moderator and some deliciously unexpected moments.

But we all know the economy is still issue No. 1 for voters in this election. Foreign policy and national security are also hot item discussions because of Benghazi and the incompetence of the WH and State.

But in my opinion…

Tonight is all about suburban women; it has been Obama’s demographic firewall. If we are to believe the Gallup/USA Today poll, Romney is now tied with Obama among women voters. So we can expect to hear a lot about women-specific issues — topics like abortion, contraception, child care, education. You know, lady parts stuff.

You can watch the Second Presidential Debate Online here.

The Debate starts at 9:00 pm ET or 6:00 pm PT from Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY. The Debate format includes questions from uncommitted voters selected by the Gallup Organization and is moderated by CNN’s Candy Crowley. Romney will take the first question, and Obama gets the second. There are no closing statements.

Will it be a game-changer? Some say no. I agree. We’re going to win in three weeks regardless of tonight. So go Mitt! Counter-punch where you can and go BIG on offense!