United States presidential election debates, 2008
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- See also: Democratic presidential debates, 2008
- See also: Republican presidential debates, 2008
The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) will sponsor four bipartisan presidential debates for the 2008 United States presidential election. As of yet, the candidates have not agreed to additional debates.
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[edit] Schedule
Although the eventual nominees of the Republican and Democratic parties and any permitted third-party candidates must agree to the final schedule and formats, the following is the schedule announced by the CPD on November 19th.[1]
Three presidential debates:
- Friday, September 26, 2008 at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi[2]. This debate will focus on domestic issues.
- Tuesday, October 7, 2008 at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee[3]. This debate will have a town-hall meeting format.
- Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York[4]. This debate will focus on foreign affairs.
One vice-presidential debate:
- Thursday, October 2, 2008 at Washington University in St. Louis in St. Louis, Missouri[5]. Any and all issues will be fair game at this debate.
[edit] Participants
The Republican and Democratic nominees, as well as any third-party candidates who average 15 percent support in polls, will be invited to take part in the debates sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates.
John McCain has proposed to Barack Obama a series of ten "town hall meetings" that would be held at locations throughout the country. Obama is open to the idea but not to the extent that McCain has proposed. These meetings would be held before the party conventions in late August.[6] ABC News had proposed a town hall meeting in New York's Federal Hall, which was jointly rejected by both candidates for being moderated by the press and for being exclusive to ABC.[7]
In addition, on June 4, 2008, Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party's presidential nominee, in an official press release, invited the Republican Party's presumptive presidential nominee, John McCain, and the Democratic Party's presumptive presidential nominee, Barack Obama to weekly presidential debates.[8] As of yet, neither has accepted his challenge.
[edit] Format
The first and third of the 90-minute CPD presidential debates, and the vice presidential debate, will be divided into 8-minute issue segments, allowing the candidates to discuss selected topics, answer follow-ups from a moderator and directly address each other. The second CPD presidential debate will feature a town hall format where voters ask questions on any topic.[9]
[edit] 2008 debate controversy
On November 19, 2007, the CPD rejected New Orleans' bid to hold a Presidential Debate in 2008 because according to Commissioner Paul G. Kirk, Jr., the city had not recovered enough from Hurricane Katrina to be able to adequately handle such an event.[10] The other debates will be held at University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi, Belmont University in Nashville and Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York.[11]
Given that the NCAA football BCS championship game was scheduled in New Orleans in January, followed by the NBA All-Star game in February, the Commission's rejection of New Orleans on logistical grounds has garnered widespread criticism. Seven presidential candidates, including Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards and John McCain, as well as The New York Times, USA Today and The Washington Post, urged the commission to hold a debate in New Orleans.[12]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ U.S. commission schedules 2008 presidential debates | Politics | Reuters
- ^ 2008 Presidential Debate | The University of Mississippi - Official Home Page
- ^ Belmont University - Debate 2008
- ^ 2008 Presidential Debate - Hofstra University
- ^ Washington University in St. Louis :: Vice Presidential Debate 2008
- ^ http://abcnews.go.com/WN/Politics/story?id=4999288&page=1
- ^ http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/president/19649164.html?location_refer=Opinion
- ^ Barr Welcomes Election Contest With Barack Obama and John McCain, Urges Weekly Debates Yahoo News
- ^ U.S. commission schedules 2008 presidential debates | Politics | Reuters
- ^ "Panel Picks 4 Debate Sites, Angering Excluded New Orleans"
- ^ "Debate commission releases its evaluation of city's application"
- ^ Well Why Can't WeSource: New Orleans Times Picayune Nov. 20, 2007
[edit] External links
- Commission on Presidential Debates official site
- 2008 Presidential Debate | The University of Mississippi official site
