Fact-checkers plan what facts to check for first debate

The first presidential debate between Mitt Romney and President Obama takes place next Wednesday evening (Oct. 3). Earlier that day, fact-checkers from several news publications are meeting to discuss what claims they'll be keeping an eye out for.

From ABC News:

The top fact checkers from Politifact, FactCheck.org, The Washington Post’s  Fact Checker blog and The Associated Press are putting their heads together this week to root out the less-than-factual lines President Obama and Mitt Romney are likely to spin. The four groups will forecast these debate deceptions during a panel at the Press Club in Washington, D.C.,  Wednesday.

Now's a good time to read up on what's been said about fact-checkers this election:

Media critic Mark Leccese wrote that fact-checkers are "blurring the line between facts and meaning."

USA Today editorialized that both the Romney and Obama campaign have altogether ignored fact-checkers.

Both campaigns do, however, have people specifically designated to respond to fact-checker questions, according to Mother Jones.

"I say to the press, ‘Fact check me.'"-- Vice President Joe Biden, Sept. 8.

“Fact-checkers come to this with their own sets of thoughts and beliefs and you know what? We’re not going let our campaign be dictated by fact-checkers.”-- Neil Newhouse, Republican pollster for Romney's campaign, Aug. 28.