The 2008 Presidential and Vice Presidential Debate Schedule

Source: DNC, GOP

1. First Presidential Debate
Date: Sept. 26

Site: University of Mississippi

Topic: Foreign Policy & National Security

Moderator: Jim Lehrer

Staging: Podium debate

Answer Format: The debate will be broken into nine, 9-minute segments. The moderator will introduce a topic and allow each candidate 2 minutes to comment. After these initial answers, the moderator will facilitate an open discussion of the topic for the remaining 5 minutes, ensuring that both candidates receive an equal amount of time to comment

2. Vice Presidential Debate
Date: Oct. 2

Site: Washington University (St. Louis)

Moderator: Gwen Ifill

Staging/Answer Format: Debate will consist of both foreign and domestic policy questions asked by the moderator. Format will be similar to the presidential debates.

3. Second Presidential Debate
Date: Oct. 7

Site: Belmont University

Moderator: Tom Brokaw

Staging: Town Hall debate

Format: The moderator will call on members of the audience (and draw questions from the internet). Each candidate will have 2 minutes to respond to each question. Following those initial answers, the moderator will invite the candidates to respond to the previous answers, for a total of 1 minute, ensuring that both candidates receive an equal amount of time to comment. In the spirit of the Town Hall, all questions will come from the audience (or internet), and not the moderator.

4. Third Presidential Debate
Date: Oct. 15

Site: Hofstra University

Topic: Domestic and Economic Issues

Moderator: Bob Schieffer

Staging: Candidates will be seated at a table

Answer Format: Same as First Presidential Debate

Closing Statements: At the end of this debate (only) each candidate shall have the opportunity for a 90 second closing statement.