2012 Debates
There were three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate during the 2012 general election.
Courtesy Mark Abraham
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October 11
(Vice Presidential)
General Election Presidential Debate
Barack Obama (D), President and
Mitt Romney (R), Former Massachusetts Governor
Date: October 3, 2012
Location: University of Denver
City: Denver, Colorado
Time: 9:00 – 10:30pm Eastern
Sponsor: Commission on Presidential Debates
Moderator: Jim Lehrer, PBS
Topic: Domestic Policy
Viewership: 67.2 million (Data provided by Nielsen Media Research)
Format: 90-minute debate with candidates standing at podiums. Divided into six time segments of approximately 15 minutes, with topics selected and announced beforehand by the moderator. Each segment opened with a question, after which each candidate had two minutes to respond. The moderator used the balance of the time in the segment for a discussion of the topic.
Pool coverage provided by: ABC
Vice Presidential Debate
Joe Biden (D), Vice President and
Paul Ryan (R), Member, United States House of Representatives (WI)
Date: October 11, 2012
Location: Centre College
City: Danville, Kentucky
Time: 9:00 – 10:30 Eastern
Sponsor: Commission on Presidential Debates
Moderator: Martha Raddatz, ABC
Topic: All Topics
Viewership: 51.4 million (Data provided by Nielsen Media Research)
Format: 90-minute debate with candidates seated at table with moderator. Divided into nine segments of approximately 10 minutes each. Each segment opened with a question, after which each candidate had two minutes to respond. The moderator used the balance of the time in the segment for a discussion of the topic.
Pool coverage provided by: CNN
General Election Presidential Debate
Barack Obama (D), President and
Mitt Romney (R), Former Massachusetts Governor
Date: October 16, 2012
Location: Hofstra University
City: Hempstead, NY
Time: 9:00 – 10:30pm Eastern
Sponsor: Commission on Presidential Debates
Moderator: Candy Crowley, CNN
Topic: All Topics
Viewership: 65.6 million (Data provided by Nielsen Media Research)
Format: 90-minute town hall meeting debate. Candidates questioned by uncommitted voters from Nassau County, NY identified by the Gallup Organization. Candidates each had two minutes to respond, and an additional two minutes for the moderator to facilitate a discussion.
Pool coverage provided by: FOX
General Election Presidential Debate
Barack Obama (D), President and
Mitt Romney (R), Former Massachusetts Governor
Date: October 22, 2012
Location: Lynn University
City: Boca Raton, FL
Time: 9:00 – 10:30pm Eastern
Sponsor: Commission on Presidential Debates
Moderator: Bob Schieffer, CBS
Topic: Foreign Policy
Viewership: 59.2 million (Data provided by Nielsen Media Research)
Format: 90-minute debate with candidates seated at table with moderator. Divided into six time segments of approximately 15 minutes, with topics selected and announced beforehand by the moderator. Each segment opened with a question, after which each candidate had two minutes to respond. The moderator used the balance of the time in the segment for a discussion of the topic.
Pool coverage provided by: ABC