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2008 campaign button 2008 Debates

There are three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate during the 2008 general election.

Sen. McCain   Sen. Obama
Courtesy Mark Abraham

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September 26

General Election Presidential Debate

John McCain (R), United States Senator (AZ) and
Barack Obama (D), United States Senator (IL)

Date:

September 26, 2008

Location:

The University of Mississippi

City:

Oxford, MS

Time:

9:00 - 10:30 p.m. Eastern

Sponsor:

Commission on Presidential Debates

Moderator:

Jim Lehrer, PBS

Topic:

Foreign Policy and National Security

Viewership:

52.4 million (Data provided by Nielsen Media Research)

Format:

90-minute debate with candidates standing at podiums. Candidates questioned in turn with two-minute responses, followed by five minutes of open discussion between moderator and candidates for each question.

Transcript

Video

Vice Presidential Debate

Joe Biden (D), United States Senator (DE) and
Sarah Palin (R), Governor (AK)

Date:

October 2, 2008

Location:

Washington University in St. Louis

City:

St. Louis, MO

Time:

9:00 - 10:30 p.m. Eastern

Sponsor:

Commission on Presidential Debates

Moderator:

Gwen Ifill, PBS

Topic:

All Topics

Viewership:

69.9 million (Data provided by Nielsen Media Research)

Format:

90-minute debate with candidates standing at podiums. Candidates questioned in turn with 90-second responses, followed by two minutes of open discussion for each question. Ninety second closing statements.

Transcript

Video

General Election Presidential Debate

John McCain (R), United States Senator (AZ) and
Barack Obama (D), United States Senator (IL)

Date:

October 7, 2008

Location:

Belmont University

City:

Nashville, TN

Time:

9:00 - 10:30 p.m. Eastern

Sponsor:

Commission on Presidential Debates

Moderator:

Tom Brokaw, NBC

Topic:

All Topics

Viewership:

63.2 million (Data provided by Nielsen Media Research)

Format:

90-minute town hall meeting debate. Candidates questioned by uncommitted voters identified by the Gallup Organization. In addition, moderator has discretion to include questions submitted online. Candidates questioned in turn with two-minute responses, followed by one-minute open discussion for each question.

Transcript

Video

General Election Presidential Debate

John McCain (R), United States Senator (AZ) and
Barack Obama (D), United States Senator (IL)

Date:

October 15, 2008

Location:

Hofstra University

City:

Hempstead, NY

Time:

9:00 - 10:30 p.m. Eastern

Sponsor:

Commission on Presidential Debates

Moderator:

Bob Schieffer, CBS

Topic:

The Economy and Domestic Policy

Viewership:

56.5 million (Data provided by Nielsen Media Research)

Format:

90-minute debate with candidates seated at table with moderator. Candidates questioned in turn with two-minute responses, followed by five minutes of open discussion for each question.

Transcript

Video

© 2008 Commission on Presidential Debates. All rights reserved.

Commission on Presidential DebatesCommission on Presidential Debates