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.