It’s a classic tactic in politics and sports: Talk up expectations for your opponent in a coming event. That seemed to be precisely what President Barack Obama’s campaign senior adviser Robert Gibbs did on Fox News Sunday when talking about Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s chances heading into the first presidential debate on Oct. 3.

Mr. Gibbs said Mr. Romney had an “advantage” in the debates because he had recently been through 20 debates in the Republican primary and was battle-tested. “In that sense, having been through this much more recently than President Obama, I think he starts with an advantage.”

The candidates for president will have three debates and the candidates for vice president will have one debate before the Nov. 6 election.