Democratic debate formats

By GottaLaff

(h/t: Bucky)

FYI:

[T]he “earliest agreement on presidential debates reached in any general election in recent history.”

Democratic Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois and South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham negotiated on behalf of the presidential rivals.

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.

It will be interesting to see, in the first debate, whether J Sid will be standing on a box, or if they'll allow us to see Obama tower over him, physically, in addition to intellectually, morally, and ideologically.