When it comes to the upcoming presidential debates, Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama will have to connect with John Q. Public, says a West Virginia University professor who is an expert on public speaking.

McCain, the Republican nominee from Arizona, and Obama, the Democratic nominee from Illinois, will have to convince average Americans they understand their everyday concerns, said Neil Berch , an associate professor of political science in WVU s Eberly College of Arts and Sciences and coach of WVU s debate team .

Judging presidential debates is different from judging collegiate debates,Berch said.You want people to know what theyre talking about, but in political debates, relating to the public is just as important.

Its not a matter of people like me keeping score of the debates. Theyre there to convince voters,he added.

McCain and Obama have debated each other onceso far. Theyhave twomore scheduleddebates before the Nov. 4 general election:Oct. 7 in Nashville, Tenn., and Oct. 15 in Hempstead, N.Y.

Berch is available to comment on the presidential debates. He can be reached at ” neil.berch@mail.wvu.edu rel=nofollow> neil.berch@mail.wvu.edu , 412-445-3957 or 412-341-8033.