Here's the formats for the debates:
The first debate on Sept. 26 at the University of Mississippi will focus on foreign policy and national security. The candidates will stand at podiums and the debate will include nine, nine-minute segments where each candidate will have two minutes to speak and then five minutes for debate. Jim Lehrer will moderate.
The second debate on Oct. 7 at Belmont University will be a town hall style forum where questions will come from the audience and on-line viewers. Each candidate will have two minutes to respond to questions, and it will not be topic-specific. Tom Brokaw will moderate.
The third debate on Oct. 15 at Hofstra University will focus on domestic and economic policy. The candidates will be seated at a table, and the question format will be the same as the first debate, with nine, nine-minute segments. Bob Schieffer will moderate.
All debates will begin at 9pm ET and last for 90 minutes. The lone vice presidential debate will take place Oct. 2 at Washington University. The format will de determined after the candidates are announced. Gwen Ifill will moderate.
A lot is riding on these debates. A Ford senior-moment could destroy McCain. I think three debates favors Obama. He's younger, sharper, and taller than McCain. The contrast will be there.
The first debate is certainly in Obama's favor with the long speeches. But what about the town-hall debate? Advantage McCain, unless Obama can get Bill Clinton to help coach him (haw!). Obama has difficultly connecting with people. Bill Clinton could do it--bring things down to the level of the ordinary working stiff. "What does it mean for me?" kind of thing.
On the other hand, can McCain really connect better? We'll have to see. If there's a gaffe, it'll override everything else. I tend to think the gaffe would come from McCain.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
The Schedule
- Aug. 11, 2007 Iowa Straw Poll
- Jan. 3, Iowa Caucuses
- Jan. 5, Wyoming (R)
- Jan. 8, New Hampshire
- Jan. 15, Michigan
- Jan. 19, Nevada, South Carolina (R)
- Jan. 26, South Carolina (D)
- Jan. 29, Florida
- Feb. 1, Maine (R)
- Feb. 5, SUPER DUPER TUESDAY, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado (D), Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho (D), Illinois, Kansas (D), Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico (D), New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia (R)
- Feb. 9, Kansas (R), Louisiana, Washington, Nebraska (D)
- Feb. 10, Maine (D)
- Feb. 12, DC (R), Maryland and Virginia
- Feb. 19, Hawaii (D), Washington (R), Wisconsin
- Mar. 4, Massachusetts, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont
- Mar. 8, Wyoming (D)
- Mar. 11, Mississippi
- Mar. 18, Colorado (R)
- Apr. 22, Pennsylvania
- May 6, Indiana, North Carolina
- May 13, Nebraska (R), West Virginia (D)
- May 20, Kentucky, Oregon
- May 27, Idaho (R)
- Jun. 3, Montana, New Mexico (R), South Dakota
- Aug. 25-28, Democratic National Convention in Denver, CO
- Sept. 1-4, Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
- Sep. 26, First debate at the University of Mississippi
- Oct. 2, VP Debate at Washington University in St. Louis
- Oct. 7, Second Debate at Belmont University in Nashville
- Oct. 15, Third Debate at Hofstra University in NY
1 comment:
Anybody who hasn’t seen the documentary ANYTOWN, USA by Kristian Fraga should check it out! It’s an entertaining story about a small town election with great colorful characters that we would all be entertained by in our hometown. In a year with larger-than-life politicians on a national level it is enlightening (and a whole lot of fun) to see what happens in a local mayoral race. This film brings the election home and shows that humorous–yet heartfelt–politics are right outside our very doors…in Anytown. Check out the film on IMDB or http://www.filmmovement.com/filmcatalog/index.asp?MerchandiseID=37
Post a Comment