Posted Sunday, October 14, 2012 --- 8:39 p.m.

BURLINGTON, Mass. (AP) -- President Barack Obama's political advisers are promising the incumbent would unleash his more aggressive side in Tuesday's debate with Mitt Romney.

Obama and Romney have been hunkering down in private debate preparation as their aides sparred on the Sunday talk shows.

The aides disagreed on much, but agreed that Romney bested Obama in their first meeting.

Obama senior campaign adviser Robert Gibbs described Mitt Romney's performance as "magical and theatrical." Gibbs explained to CNN it was "magical and theatrical largely because for 90 minutes he walked away from a campaign he had been running for more than six years previous to that. "

Obama spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki said the president "knows Mitt Romney had a better night at the first debate." She added, "The American people should expect to see a much more energized President Obama."

Ed Gillespie, senior adviser to the Romney campaign, told Fox News that Romney would be prepared regardless of Obama's adjustments. As he put it, "The president can change his style. He can change his tactics. He can't change his record. "

Obama spent the day with aides in swing state Virginia, while Romney stayed close to his Boston-area home ahead of Tuesday's prime-time, town hall-style debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y.

Copyright 2012. The Associated Press.