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Oct 16 2008, 8:50 PM EDT (current) #1LostFan
Oct 7 2008, 11:15 PM EDT #1LostFan 1 word added, 1 word deleted

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The 2008 presidential debates have been scheduled, with topics and moderators announced. Below is the complete schedule for the debates, links go to debate recaps.

2008 Presidential Debates

Title First Presidential Debate Second Presidential Debate Third Presidential Debate
Date 9 PM EDT
Friday, September 26, 2008
9 PM EDT
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
9 PM EDT
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Location University of Mississippi
Oxford, Mississippi
Belmont University
Nashville, Tennessee
Hofstra University
Hempstead, New York
Topic Domestic Issues Town Hall style Foreign Affairs
Moderator Jim Lehrer Tom Brokaw Bob Schieffer


2008 Vice Presidential Debates

Title Vice Presidential Debate
Date 9 PM EDT
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Location Washington University
St. Louis, Missouri
Topic Foreign and domestic topics
Moderator Gwen Ifil

Debate Rules

The format for the debates will be as follows:
  • Each debate will have a single moderator and last for 90 minutes.
  • In the first and third presidential debates and the vice presidential debate, the candidates will be seated with the moderator at a table.
  • One presidential debate will focus primarily on domestic policy and one presidential debate will focus primarily on foreign policy. The second presidential debate will be held as a town meeting in which citizens will pose questions to the candidates. The vice presidential debate will cover both foreign and domestic topics.
  • During the first and third presidential debates, and the vice presidential debate, the time will be divided into eight 10-minute segments. The moderator will introduce each segment with an issue on which each candidate will comment, after which the moderator will facilitate further discussion of the issue, including direct exchange between the candidates for the balance of that segment.
  • The participants in the town meeting will pose their questions to the candidates after reviewing their questions with the moderator for the sole purpose of avoiding duplication. The participants will be chosen by the Gallup Organization and will be undecided voters from the Nashville, Tenn., standard metropolitan statistical area. During the town meeting, the moderator has discretion to use questions submitted by Internet.
  • Time at the end of the final presidential debate will be reserved for closing statements.