Presidential Race Tightens Ahead Of Debate

The race for the White House is close on the eve of the second presidential debate, with new polls showing Mitt Romney on the rise.  Meanwhile, many topics have been brought up on the campaign trail, including that nasty feud on American Idol. INS

President Obama is weighing in. Not on the crisis in the Middle East, but the feud between Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj.

“I think that they are going to be able to sort it out. I am confident," "I think both outstanding artists are going to be able to make sure that they're moving forward and not going backwards," said Obama.

The president's American Idol peace initiative came during an interview on a radio show in Miami. The cheeky host even asked him to take sides.

“Which one is your favorite out of the two?”

He replied "You know Mariah, she's actually done some events for us. I've gotten to know her and Nick (Cannon), and she's a wonderful lady. So, Nicki I don't know, but I’ve got her on my iPod.”

The latest polls show the election tightening into a dead heat. Many are calling Tuesday night's debate, make or break time for the president.

He's prepping for the showdown at the Kingsmill, an exclusive resort outside Williamsburg, Virginia.

Mitt Romney is sharpening his debating skills at the Marriott in Burlington, Massachusetts.

Romney also just cancelled an appearance on The View that had been set for Thursday.

"Over the weekend his people said that he had scheduling problems and he would not be coming on with us," Barbara Walters announced on the show.

Ann Romney will come on the show in his place. No doubt she will be wearing another eye-catching outfit. She has been earning high praise for her fashion choices and a lot of her outfits come from the same designer.  

The leather suit she wore on The Tonight Show, the red shirt dress she wore on Good Morning America and the cream suit she wore at the last debate were all designed by Alfred Fiandaca.

INSIDE EDITION got an exclusive tour of the 72-year-old designer’s Manhattan showroom.

And get this, Mitt actually helps Ann choose what to wear.
    
“I think he has a very large influence on what she wears and she likes to please him,” said Fiandaca.