Everyone from President Obama to Mitt Romney to an enraged Chris Matthews were reminded of an important election year detail: debates matter. The candidates' meeting in Colorado changed the course of the race, catapulting Romney into a lead in national polls and placing Obama on the defensive in several battleground states.
Tonight's second presidential debate could be just as influential—and so it's as important as ever to keep the facts straight as both candidates hustle for a victory on stage. The scope of discussion at the town hall-style event will increase, with questions from the audience on both foreign and domestic policy. Here's a cheat-sheet to help separate the fact from the spin.