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T-shirts bearing the images of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney (L) and US President Barack Obama for sale are seen at a retail shop inside Dulles International Airport near Washington, DC, September 17, 2012 in Chantilly, Virginia.

The bell rings and the champions come out fighting… it’s round one in the series of presidential debates that marks the final month of campaigning before the nation chooses its next president. Many criticize these debates as too scripted, too controlled, too uninspired, but for others the candidate’s performance is key in the decision to stick with President Obama or give Mitt Romney a chance. We watched the action live in the Crawford Family Forum, with KPCC’s Frank Stoltze and Raphael Sonenshein, executive director of The Pat Brown Institute.

What issues will you be following this election year? What experiences have influenced the way you feel about them? KPCC is looking for your stories for our "That's My issue" series.