Mitt Romney to spend three days next week prepping for fall debates

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney plans to spend three days next week preparing for the fall debates.

Romney spokesman Kevin Madden on Saturday said Ohio Sen. Rob Portman will join Romney in Reading, Vt., for sessions at the home of Massachusetts' former lieutenant governor, Kerry Healey. Romney has been reading briefing books and doing other work ahead of the three planned one-on-one debates with President Barack Obama. Portman also played the role of Obama for 2008 Republican nominee John McCain and has been studying material sent from Romney's Boston headquarters.

Romney will prepare as Democrats gather at their convention in Charlotte, N.C. Obama spent the week of the Republican National Convention campaigning in three swing states.

Madden said Romney has no current plans to hold public campaign events next week.