Hempstead, New York (CNN) -- President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney face off Tuesday in the second of their three debates, this one in a town hall-style setting in which they'll take questions from likely voters. 

The stakes couldn't be higher: Obama must get his campaign back on track after a poor performance in the first debate that left Democrats demoralized and Obama's lead evaporating both in national polls and those in key battleground states. For Romney, who polls among voters showed won the first debate overwhelmingly, a second strong performance would boost his momentum going into the third debate next Monday and the final two weeks before Election Day. 

Here are five things to watch for on Tuesday: 

1. Connecting with the audience 

Unlike the first presidential showdown in Denver two weeks ago, this debate will include a town hall audience of approximately 80 undecided voters, some of whom will get the chance to ask questions to the two candidates. 

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. 

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"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." 
who is the debate's moderator?
who is she?
what else does she host?
is this the first debate?
then?
what kind of a setting will it be?
is the setting of the 2nd similar to the 1st?
who is in the debate?
what party is Romney?
who was better in the 1st?
how long before elections is the last one?
where was the first one?
how many people will be there for the 2nd?
what will the audience get to do?
how did the democrats feel after the 1st?
what day is this debate?
and what day is the third?
what is the challenge in this one?
do they connect just with the audience?
then who else?
Candy Crowley
 the debate's moderator, CNN Chief Political Correspondent Candy Crowley
CNN Chief Political Correspondent
CNN Chief Political Correspondent Candy Crowley,
"State of the Union"
 Crowley, who's also the host of CNN's "State of the Union."
No
second of their three debates
2nd
second of their three debates
Town hall
town hall-style setting
No
Unlike the first presidential showdown in Denver two weeks ago, this debate will include a town hall audience 
Barack Obama and Mitt Romney
President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney
Republican
Republican challenger Mitt Romney
Romney
For Romney, who polls among voters showed won the first debate overwhelmingly
Two weeks
two weeks before Election Day.
Denver
Unlike the first presidential showdown in Denver
About 80 undecided voters, other numbers unknown
 this debate will include a town hall audience of approximately 80 undecided voters
Ask questions
some of whom will get the chance to ask questions
Demoralized
 poor performance in the first debate that left Democrats demoralized
Tuesday
Here are five things to watch for on Tuesday
Monday
third debate next Monday
To connect with voters
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
No
he 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,
To the people watching on TV, and in person.
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