2008 Presidential Debate Schedule
Four Presidential Debates are scheduled during the 2008 Presidential election season. Three will feature Barack Obama and John McCain and one will feature Joe Biden and Sarah Palin.
All Presidential Debates are scheduled at 9 p.m. Eastern (6 p.m. Pacific) and will be featured on all major broadcast and cable news stations. The debates are sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates.
Location: University of Mississippi
Moderator: Jim Lehrer of PBS
Topics: Foreign Policy & National Security
The first debate between John McCain and Barack Obama will be broken into nine 9-minute segments allowing each candidate two minutes to comment whenever a new issue is raised. Following these opening comments, the floor will be open for discussion for five minutes.
Location: Washington University in St. Louis, MO
Moderator: Gwen Ifill of PBS
Topics: Foreign & Domestic Policy
This is the only debate scheduled for Vice Presidential candidates Sarah Palin and Joe Biden. The debate will consist of questioning by moderator Gwen Ifill with a chance for each candidate to respond. Each candidate will have 90 seconds to answer the question posed. The floor will be open for discussion for another two minute, with another two minutes being allotted for closing statements.
Location: Belmont University in Nashville, TN
Moderator: Tom Brokaw of NBC
The second debate between John McCain and Barack Obama will be in a Town Hall format with moderator Tom Brokaw calling on members of the audience and reading questions posed via the Internet. Each candidate will have two minutes to respond, with an extra minute given to reply to his opponent's answer. None of the questions will be posed by the moderator.
Location: Hofstra University in Long Island, NY
Moderator: Bob Schieffer of CBS
Topics: Domestic Issues and The Economy
The structure of this debate is identical to that of the first debate, except that instead of podiums, the candidates will be seated at a table with moderator Bob Schieffer. This will be the only debate to feature a 90 second closing statement from each candidate.
First Presidential Debate
When: Friday, Sept. 26Location: University of Mississippi
Moderator: Jim Lehrer of PBS
Topics: Foreign Policy & National Security
The first debate between John McCain and Barack Obama will be broken into nine 9-minute segments allowing each candidate two minutes to comment whenever a new issue is raised. Following these opening comments, the floor will be open for discussion for five minutes.
Vice Presidential Debate
When: Thursday, Oct. 2Location: Washington University in St. Louis, MO
Moderator: Gwen Ifill of PBS
Topics: Foreign & Domestic Policy
This is the only debate scheduled for Vice Presidential candidates Sarah Palin and Joe Biden. The debate will consist of questioning by moderator Gwen Ifill with a chance for each candidate to respond. Each candidate will have 90 seconds to answer the question posed. The floor will be open for discussion for another two minute, with another two minutes being allotted for closing statements.
Second Presidential Debate
When: Tuesday, Oct. 7Location: Belmont University in Nashville, TN
Moderator: Tom Brokaw of NBC
The second debate between John McCain and Barack Obama will be in a Town Hall format with moderator Tom Brokaw calling on members of the audience and reading questions posed via the Internet. Each candidate will have two minutes to respond, with an extra minute given to reply to his opponent's answer. None of the questions will be posed by the moderator.
Third Presidential Debate
When: Wednesday, Oct. 15Location: Hofstra University in Long Island, NY
Moderator: Bob Schieffer of CBS
Topics: Domestic Issues and The Economy
The structure of this debate is identical to that of the first debate, except that instead of podiums, the candidates will be seated at a table with moderator Bob Schieffer. This will be the only debate to feature a 90 second closing statement from each candidate.
