“Through his campaign work, (McCain) definitely touts his foreign policy experience, so I would not be surprised at all to see him play to those strengths,” Louis Glinzak, press secretary for the MSU College Republicans, said.

Although McCain is expected to rely heavily on traditional foreign policy ideas such as having a strong commander in chief and openness to exerting force, Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama likely will focus on his plan to gradually withdraw from Iraq and continue efforts in Afghanistan, said Matt Zierler, an assistant professor of international relations and an expert in foreign policy.

Obama has come under fire for his lack of experience, which political experts have expected to weaken him in the debates. But Obama has expressed readiness to challenge McCain in person.

“If John McCain wants to have a debate about foreign policy, I’m happy to have that debate,” he told a crowd in Battle Creek last weekend.

Zierler said Obama will have to offer a well-defined plan in order to dispel the notion that he is inexperienced on major issues.

“(Obama) is going to have to clearly enunciate positions,” he said. “He needs to show he can lead, which means putting himself out there and expressing himself clearly.”

The vice presidential debate is scheduled for Oct. 2 at Washington University in St. Louis. It will be moderated by Gwen Ifill, senior correspondent for “The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.”

Zierler said Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden is expected to outshine Republican Sarah Palin, but Glinzak said Palin’s experience with debates when she ran for governor of Alaska will give her an advantage.

“I’m sure the McCain campaign is grooming her well enough to be prepared,” he said.

In an election that is predicted to be close, the debates will play a large role in helping undecided voters choose, Zierler said.

Samantha Moore, a family community services and public relations senior, said she has not chosen a favorite candidate and is hoping to hear something from McCain or Obama to help her make a decision.

“I’m definitely not set in stone,” she said. “The debates will be a chance to hear both sides … we’ll be done with rumor and heresy, and it’ll just be a face-to-face discussion.”

Following the first debates, Tom Brokaw will moderate an Oct. 7 town hall presidential debate at Nashville’s Belmont University, during which candidates will field questions from the audience. The final debate will be moderated by Bob Schieffer and will cover domestic and economic policy. It will be held Oct. 15 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y.