Romney Preps for Debate as Party Stresses About Numbers

Campaign meets with Republican leaders

Under pressure to regain his balance in the race for the White House, Mitt Romney is going through intense preparation for the first presidential debate next week while his campaign appeals to fellow Republicans to keep faith with their candidate.

Romney has appeared to have stopped the stumbling by having a relatively mistake-free week of campaigning after recent troubles that allowed President Barack Obama to build a lead in polls with less than 40 days left until the Nov. 6 election.

But Romney has to find a way to move the needle back in his direction before the race slips away. Romney forces are trying to reassure party leaders that the campaign is not over.