WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Obama senior campaign adviser Robert Gibbs is skipping debate prep this week, during a year in which he never quite regained the his central role on the 2008 campaign and part of Obama's first term, but has spent time on the lucrative speaking circuit.
Gibbs participated in two debates with former Bush adviser Karen Hughes last week sponsored by financial services and healthcare consulting company Navigant.
The Obama campaign sent mixed signals last week over whether Gibbs, noted for his ability to criticize Obama to his face, would join debate prep, ultimately telling The Wall Street Journal he would not. He was not in Williamsburg where Obama is drilling for Tuesday night's town hall.
Gibbs and Hughes faced off twice last week, and will appear onstage again together the day after the last presidential debate.