2008 Presidential Campaign Blog

Statement By Commission On Presidential Debates

Statement by Commission on Presidential Debates

OXFORD, Miss., Sept. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- "The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) is moving forward with its plan for the first presidential debate at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Miss. this Friday, September 26. The plans for this forum have been underway for more than a year and a half. The CPD's mission is to provide a forum in which the American public has an opportunity to hear the leading candidates for the president of the United States debate the critical issues facing the nation. We believe the public will be well served by having all of the debates go forward as scheduled."

Official Statement From The University Of Mississippi Chancellor's Office On Friday's Debate

Official Statement From The University Of Mississippi Chancellor's Office On Friday's Debate

The University of Mississippi is going forward with the preparation for the debate. We are ready to host the debate, and we expect the debate to occur as planned.

At present, the University has received no notification of any change in the timing or venue of the debate.

We have been notified by the Commission on Presidential Debates that we are proceeding as scheduled.

We will keep you posted as information becomes available.

Sen. Joe Biden And Gov. Sarah Palin Set For October 2nd Debate In St. Louis

Biden, Palin set for Oct. 2 VP Debate

Sen. Joe Biden from Delaware and Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, the vice presidential nominees of the Democratic and Republican parties, respectively, will debate each other at 8 p.m. (CDT) Oct. 2 in the Washington University in St. Louis Athletic Complex, according to the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD).

This is the first time the University will host a vice presidential debate. It's the fifth consecutive presidential election that the University has been selected by the CPD, the event's sponsor, to serve as a debate host.

The CPD, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization established in 1987, is responsible for selecting the venues and producing the presidential debates. The CPD's three 2008 presidential debates locations and dates are: the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Miss., Sept. 26; Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., Oct. 7; and Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., Oct. 15.

Washington University again is offering the same facilities that were made available for the 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004 debates. They include the Field House — which is the actual debate site — Francis Gymnasium, the Rec Gym and other areas of the Athletic Complex. Francis Gym and Francis Field were the sites of the 1904 World Olympic Games, the first Olympics played in the Western Hemisphere.

The debate will be moderated by Gwen Ifill, a longtime correspondent and moderator for nationally televised public broadcasting news programs. Ifill, who serves as moderator and managing editor of PBS' "Washington Week" and senior correspondent for "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer," also moderated the CPD's 2004 vice presidential debate between Vice President Dick Cheney and Sen. John Edwards, held Oct. 5 at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

Biden was nominated for vice president Aug. 27 at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colo. A week later, on Sept. 4, Palin was nominated for vice president at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn.

Biden, 65, is a 36-year veteran of the U.S. Senate. He was elected in 1972 when he was 29. He is known for his leadership in foreign policy, terrorism, crime and drug policy. He ran unsuccessfully for the presidential nomination of his party in 1988 and in 2008.

Biden is the former chairman and long-time member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Over the years he has been influential in crime and drug policy legislation. His Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, frequently referred to as the Biden Crime Bill, increased police numbers by 100,000 nationwide and brought more federal support for criminal justice.

The 2007 Biden Crime Bill addresses burgeoning crime problems such as online child exploitation, computer hacking and teenage prescription drug abuse.

Palins vice presidential nomination marks the first time that the Republican Party has nominated a woman for the position. On Dec. 4, 2006, she also made history when she became the first woman governor of Alaska.

Palin, 46, has overseen increases in Alaska state savings, education funding and implemented the Senior Benefits Program that provides support for low-income older Alaskans. Her administration has passed an overhaul of the states ethics laws and developed a process to construct a gas pipeline.

Palin is chair of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, a multistate government agency that promotes the conservation and efficient recovery of domestic oil and natural gas resources while protecting the environment.

Before becoming governor of Alaska, she served two terms on the Wasilla City Council and two terms as mayor/manager of Wasilla. Palin also has served as chair of the Alaska Conservation Commission, which regulates Alaska's oil and gas.

Local sponsors for the vice presidential debate are AT&T, Emerson and Wachovia Securities.

Washington University is the only institution to host more than two debates.

In 1992, the university hosted the first nationally televised three-candidate presidential debate in CPD history, was selected to host a presidential debate in 1996 that eventually was canceled, hosted the third and last presidential debate of the 2000 campaign season and the second of three presidential debates before the 2004 election.

Commission on Presidential Debates Hails 2008 Formats as 'Historic Breakthrough'

Commission on Presidential Debates Hails 2008 Formats as 'Historic Breakthrough'

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Paul G. Kirk, Jr. and Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., the co-chairmen of The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), today announced the finalized formats of the 2008 presidential and vice presidential debates agreed to by the Obama and McCain campaigns, calling them "a breakthrough in the history of televised debates."

Kirk, Jr. and Fahrenkopf said, "In a year when unprecedented voter interest in the general election debates is anticipated, the CPD is pleased that the major party campaigns have essentially embraced the goals and breakthrough formats proposed by the CPD."

When proposed in November 2007, Kirk and Fahrkenkopf said, "Our mission is to promote voter education. The public deserves to hear and see the candidates offer and defend their positions on the critical issues facing our country in the most thoughtful and in-depth manner that television time constraints will allow. Loosening the constraints within the ninety minutes debate will allow for more serious examination of complicated questions. This change will also open the possibility of the moderator inviting candidates to question each other. We want voters to benefit from as full an explanation of a topic as possible, and we feel certain that the candidates will welcome this change for the same reason."

Today, Kirk and Fahrenkopf said, "Indeed, both campaigns, without public controversy, with quiet cooperation and with minor revisions, have agreed to CPD's proposal that each debate will be divided into issue segments allowing time for each candidate to comment on that issue followed by a free-flow conversation/ discussion between the candidates including the possibility of direct exchange between the candidates."

Kirk and Fahrenkopf added, "These formats are an historic breakthrough in the history of televised debates. Televised debates have been hampered by restrictive time limits resulting in scripted, poll-tested, bumper sticker responses. In 2008, when stakes are higher than ever, issues more complex than ever, voter interest more intense than ever, voter education calls for a more expansive discussion between the leading candidates for president and vice president of the United States on the issues confronting America. The Commission commends Senators Obama and McCain for their understanding and acceptance of this need."

The Commission's presidential debate formats were negotiated prior to the conventions of the major parties. The vice presidential format was negotiated following the vice president selections and was finalized Saturday. The vice presidential debate will embrace the same structure as the presidential debates. However, the discussion period for the vice presidential debate will necessarily be shorter than that of presidential debates. The presidential debates will devote one 90 minute debate exclusively to foreign policy and one 90 minute debate exclusively to domestic policy. The only vice presidential debate will include both foreign and domestic issues within a 90 minute format. The vice presidential format will also allow two minutes for each candidate to offer a closing statement. Town meeting, the format for the second presidential debate, was first introduced in 1992 and has proven very popular with the viewing public. This year the moderator will include questions submitted by Internet at MyDebates.org with questions from the citizen participants.

The detailed schedule of the CPD sponsored debates is as follows (all debates start at 9:00 p.m. EDT):

  First presidential debate:  foreign policy and national security,
  moderated by Jim Lehrer

  Friday, September 26, University of Mississippi, Oxford, Miss.

   -- Two-minute answers, followed by five-minute discussion for each
      question.

  Vice presidential debate:  all topics, moderated by Gwen Ifill

  Thursday, October 2, Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.

   -- Ninety-second answers, followed by two-minute discussion for each
      question.  Two-minute closing statements.

  Second presidential debate: all topics in town meeting format, moderated
  by Tom Brokaw

  Tuesday, October 7, Belmont University, Nashville, TN

  -- Two-minute answers, followed by one-minute discussion for each
     question.

  Third presidential debate: the economy and domestic policy, moderated by
  Bob Schieffer

  Wednesday, October 15, Hofstra University, Hempstead, N.Y.

  -- Two-minute answers, followed by five-minute discussion for each
     question.  Two-minute closing statements.

Senator Obama and Senator McCain, Senator Biden and Governor Palin Invited to CPD's Debates

Senator Obama and Senator McCain, Senator Biden and Governor Palin Invited to CPD's Debates

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The non-partisan, non-profit Commission on Presidential Debates ("CPD") announced today that it has applied its Nonpartisan Candidate Selection Criteria for 2008 General Election Debate participation to determine eligibility to participate in the presidential debate to take place at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi on September 26 and the vice-presidential debate to take place on October 2 at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Pursuant to the criteria, which were publicly announced on November 19, 2007, those candidates qualify for debate participation who (1) are constitutionally eligible to hold the office of President of the United States; (2) have achieved ballot access in a sufficient number of states to win a theoretical Electoral College majority in the general election; and (3) have demonstrated a level of support of at least 15 percent of the national electorate, as determined by five selected national public opinion polling organizations, using the average of those organizations' most recent publicly- reported results.

The Board of Directors of the CPD convened today to apply the criteria with the assistance of the Editor-In-Chief of the Gallup Polling Organization, Dr. Frank Newport. Of the declared candidates, Senators Barack Obama and John McCain were found to have satisfied all three criteria. Accordingly, Senator Obama and his running mate, Senator Joe Biden, and Senator John McCain and his running mate, Governor Sarah Palin, qualify to participate in the September 26 presidential debate and the Oct. 2 vice-presidential debate, respectively. No other candidates satisfied the criteria for inclusion in the September 26 and Oct. 2 debates.

The CPD has successfully sponsored the presidential and vice presidential general election debates since 1988. The CPD's planning for the 2008 debates has extended over a period of years and has drawn upon the CPD's now-extensive experience in sponsoring general election debates. On November 19, 2007, the CPD announced the four dates and locations for this year's debates, and on August 5, 2008, the CPD announced the four journalists who will moderate those debates: Jim Lehrer, Gwen Ifill, Tom Brokaw and Bob Schieffer. The CPD is firmly committed to providing, in a professional and nonpartisan manner, debates in 2008 that will allow the American public to view the leading presidential and vice presidential candidates discuss the issues facing the country.

The candidates who have qualified to participate today previously have committed to participate in the debates sponsored by the CPD.

Hofstra Preps For Historic Presidential Debate On October 15, 2008

Hofstra Preps for Historic Presidential Debate on October 15, 2008

Arena takes shape as debate hall, Media Center created for candidates, campaigns and thousands of journalists

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY – Hofstra's David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex is being transformed into a debate hall for the third and final 2008 presidential debate on October 15, 2008.

The work at the arena is part of the elaborate preparations by Hofstra required to host this historic event. The presidential debates are presented by the non-partisan Commission on Presidential Debates. The debate at Hofstra is sponsored locally by the Peter S. Kalikow Center for the Study of the American Presidency and The John D. Miller Fund at the Long Island Community Foundation. The Hofstra debate, which will focus on economic policy and domestic issues, will be moderated by Bob Schieffer, CBS News chief Washington correspondent and "Face the Nation" host.

Hofstra crews are busy preparing the arena as well as the adjacent Physical Fitness Center, which will serve as the Media Center for thousands of journalists from across the country and around the world who will cover the debate. Hofstra employees and student volunteers will staff the Media Center and other locations across campus.

Leading up to the debate and the 2008 election, Hofstra is proud to host Educate '08, an unprecedented series of lectures, conferences, artistic performances and exhibitions, town hall meetings and interactive forums focused on the issues, history and politics of presidential elections. Educate '08 provides our students, faculty and the entire surrounding community with access to the newsmakers, scholars and policymakers who have unique insight and knowledge of the American political system.  Many of the programs and events are free and open to the public.

Hofstra University is a dynamic private institution where students can choose from about 140 undergraduate and 155 graduate programs in liberal arts and sciences, business, communication, education and allied human services, and honors studies, as well as a School of Law. With a student-faculty ratio of 14-to-1, our professors teach small classes averaging 22 students that emphasize interaction, critical thinking and analysis. Hofstra offers a faculty whose highest priority is teaching excellence. The University also provides excellent facilities with state-of-the-art technology, extensive library resources and internship programs that match students’ interests and abilities with appropriate companies and organizations.  The Hofstra community is driven, dynamic and energetic, helping students find and focus their strengths to prepare them for a successful future.

Washington University In St. Louis Hard At Work For October 2nd Vice Presidential Debate

Washington University In St. Louis Hard At Work For October 2nd Vice Presidential Debate

As the Oct. 2 vice presidential debate looms closer, many in the WUSTL community are hard at work preparing for its arrival.

The University will host the debate scheduled for 8 p.m. Oct. 2 in the Athletic Complex. This is the first time the University will host a vice presidential debate. It's the fifth consecutive time the University has been selected by the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), the event's sponsor, to serve as a host.

"Our selection once again as a debate site can be directly attributed to the dedication, skill and hard work of the many women and men on our campus who have assisted in the production of previous debates at Washington University," said Rob Wild, assistant to the chancellor and chair of the Presidential Debate Steering Committee.

"Much work has already been accomplished this summer, but there is also significant work to be done before October 2. I am extremely confident that the team we have assembled will help us solidify our reputation as the 'gold standard' when it comes to hosting debates," Wild said.

"Our mantra has been that we can't sit back and rest on the laurels of past debates. We've spent the summer getting ready, and we'll soon be ratcheting up our efforts to prepare for a hectic few weeks leading into October. We have every confidence that this will go well," he said.

The CPD, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization established in 1987, is responsible for selecting the venues and producing the presidential debates. The CPD's three presidential debates will be held at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Miss., Sept. 26; at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., Oct. 7; and Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., Oct. 15.

The University again is offering the same facilities that were made available for the 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004 debates, which include the Field House, Francis Gymnasium and other areas of the Athletic Complex. Francis Gym and Francis Field were the sites of the 1904 World Olympic Games, the first Olympics played in the Western Hemisphere.

Construction crews are scheduled to begin converting the Athletic Complex into a national debate venue Sept. 25, at which time the facility will be closed to recreational use. The complex will resume normal operating hours Oct. 6.

Debate format, television audience

Gwen Ifill, a longtime correspondent and moderator for nationally televised public broadcasting news programs, has been selected to moderate the debate. She also moderated the CPD's 2004 vice presidential debate between Vice President Dick Cheney and Sen. John Edwards at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

Worldwide television viewership of the vice presidential debate is comparable to the presidential debates, with the exception of the first presidential debate, which always commands the highest viewing numbers, according to the CPD.

All the debates will be 90 minutes long and administered by a single moderator, except for one presidential town-meeting format debate in which the candidates will be seated at a table with the moderator.

The vice presidential debate will include domestic and foreign policy issues, according to the CPD.

A format change is being introduced in two of the presidential debates as well as the vice presidential debate.

Each of those debates will be divided into eight 10-minute issue segments; the moderator will introduce each segment with an issue on which each candidate will comment, after which the moderator will facilitate further discussion of the issue, including direct exchange between the candidates, for the balance of that segment.

Time will be reserved for closing statements by each of the candidates in each debate.

Paul G. Kirk Jr. and Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr., co-chairmen of the nonpartisan, nonprofit commission, noted that this change is aimed at increasing the educational value of the general election debates.

"Our mission is to promote voter education," they said. "The public deserves to hear and see the candidates offer and defend their positions on the critical issues facing our country in the most thoughtful and in-depth manner that television time constraints will allow. Loosening the constraints within the 90-minute debate will allow for more serious examination of complicated questions.

"This change will also open the possibility of the moderator inviting candidates to question each other. We want voters to benefit from as full an explanation of a topic as possible, and we feel certain that the candidates will welcome this change for the same reason," they said.

Washington University is the only institution to host more than two debates.

The University hosted the first three-candidate presidential debate in CPD history in 1992, was selected to host a presidential debate in 1996 that eventually was canceled, hosted the third and last presidential debate of the 2000 campaign season and the second of three presidential debates before the 2004 election.

In her introduction of the 2004 debate, CPD executive director Janet Brown praised the University as being the "gold standard" for debate sites.

Tennessee Delegates To Display Belmont Debate08 Pins, Stickers During Convention Roll Call

Belmont Debate08 Hits National Convention Floors
Tennessee delegates to display Belmont Debate08 pins, stickers during Roll Call

In anticipation of hosting the 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate on Oct. 7, Belmont University is taking to the floors of the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. The night before the respective candidates at both conventions accept their nominations, delegates from Tennessee will don Belmont University Debate08 stickers and lapel pins. Representatives from Tennessee will introduce the state as the host site of the 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate at Belmont University before Tennessee’s roll call at both the Democratic and Republican conventions. The Democratic National Convention is taking place in Denver this week, and the DNC Roll Call is scheduled for today between 4-6 p.m. Central (3-5 p.m. Mountain). The Republican National Convention follows next week in Minneapolis, Sept. 1-4.

“The national conventions have long been viewed as the kickoff into the final stretch of the election season,” Belmont President Bob Fisher said. “It is an appropriate venue for Belmont to make its first push on the national stage as the eyes of the world turn from the conventions to the series of presidential debates. As host to the first presidential debate to ever be held in Tennessee, it is something we are glad our citizens and delegates are celebrating with us.”

Signs of the debate have been popping up around Nashville for several months. When travelers arrive at Nashville International Airport they are greeted by Debate08 Welcome signs in baggage claim. Billboards, banners throughout downtown Nashville and the Belmont campus and a 45’x12” banner adorning the university’s bell tower tout Belmont’s role in the 2008 election.

“Our goal is to be sure that the whole world knows that a town hall debate will be held at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn.,” Fisher said. “We are proud to have received this honor and hope to instill that same sense of pride in our students, alumni and friends throughout Nashville and the rest of the country.”

About Belmont University
Belmont University, host of the 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate, is a fast-growing community of 5,000 students who come from almost every state and more than 25 countries. Committed to being a leader among teaching universities, Belmont brings together the best of liberal arts and professional education in a Christian community of learning and service. The university’s purpose is to help students explore their passions and develop their talents to meet the world’s needs. With more than 75 areas of study, 12 master’s programs and three doctoral degrees, there is no limit to the ways Belmont University can expand an individual's horizon.

About 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate
The 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate at Belmont University is made possible through the generosity of our lead sponsors, Hospital Corporation of America, Jack C. Massey Foundation, The Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County and the State of Tennessee. Additional support is provided by AT&T; Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell and Berkowitz; Bank of America; Bridgestone Americas; Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc.; Pat and George Bullard; Dell, Inc.; Dollar General Corporation; Earl Swensson Associates, Inc.; Enterprise Electric, LLC; Fifth Third Bank; First Tennessee Bank; The Frist Foundation; Gaylord Entertainment; Interior Design Services, Inc.; Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce; Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau; Nissan North America; Partnership for Chronic Disease; Purity Dairies, Inc.; Reliant Bank; Sherrard & Roe; The Tennessean; Walker, Tipps & Malone; Waller, Landsden, Dortch & Davis, Zycron, Inc.

Joint Statement On The Presidential Debates

JOINT STATEMENT ON THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES

ARLINGTON, VA -- Today, the McCain and Obama campaigns released the following statement on the Presidential debates:

"The Barack Obama and John McCain campaigns have agreed to hold three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate in September and October sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates. The campaigns have come to the earliest agreement on presidential debates reached in any general election in recent history. This announcement reflects the presidential campaigns' agreement on dates, locations, and the formats for the fall debates. Campaign-appointed debate negotiators House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said they were pleased to have reached an early agreement to provide the American people with the opportunity to see and hear the candidates debate the critical issues facing the country. The two campaigns have accepted sponsorship of the debates by the Commission on Presidential Debates, subject to the debates being conducted under the terms of their agreement."

Summary Of McCain-Obama Debate Agreement:

The two campaigns agreed today on a framework for four General Election debates, to be sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates. Key elements of the agreement are:

1. First Presidential Debate:

 - Date: September 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: October 2nd
 - Site: Washington University (St. Louis)
 - Moderator: Gwen Ifill
 - Staging/Answer Format: To be resolved after both parties' Vice Presidential nominees are selected.

3. Second Presidential Debate

 - Date: October 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: October 15
 - Site: Hofstra University
 - Topic: Domestic and Economic policy
 - 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.

All four debates will begin at 9pm ET, and last for 90 minutes. Both campaigns also agreed to accept the CPD's participation rules for third-party candidate participation.

Commission On Presidential Debates (CPD) Announces 2008 Debate Moderators

COMMISSION ON PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES ANNOUNCES MODERATORS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Paul G. Kirk, Jr. and Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., co-chairmen of the non-partisan Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), today announced the moderators for the 2008 general election presidential and vice presidential debates. The moderators, and the schedule and locations for the debates (as announced on November 21, 2007), are as follows:

First presidential debate
Friday, September 26
The University of Mississippi, Oxford, Miss.
Jim Lehrer
Executive Editor and Anchor, The NewsHour, PBS

Vice presidential debate
Thursday, October 2
Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.
Gwen Ifill
Senior Correspondent, The NewsHour, and Moderator and Managing Editor, Washington Week, PBS

Second presidential debate (town meeting)
Tuesday, October 7
Belmont University, Nashville, Tenn.
Tom Brokaw
Special Correspondent, NBC News

Third presidential debate
Wednesday, October 15
Hofstra University, Hempstead, N.Y.
Bob Schieffer
CBS News Chief Washington Correspondent, and Host, Face the Nation

Each debate will begin at 9:00 p.m. EST.

Format

The format for the debates, announced on November 21, 2007, will be:

Each debate will have a single moderator and last for 90 minutes.

In the first and third presidential debates and the vice presidential debate, the candidates will be seated with the moderator at a table.

One presidential debate will focus primarily on domestic policy and one presidential debate will focus primarily on foreign policy. The second presidential debate will be held as a town meeting in which citizens will pose questions to the candidates. The vice presidential debate will cover both foreign and domestic topics.

During the first and third presidential debates, and the vice presidential debate, the time will be divided into eight, ten-minute segments. The moderator will introduce each segment with an issue on which each candidate will comment, after which the moderator will facilitate further discussion of the issue, including direct exchange between the candidates for the balance of that segment.

The participants in the town meeting will pose their questions to the candidates after reviewing their questions with the moderator for the sole purpose of avoiding duplication. The participants will be chosen by the Gallup Organization and will be undecided voters from the Nashville, Tenn. standard metropolitan statistical area. During the town meeting, the moderator has discretion to use questions submitted by Internet.

Time at the end of the final presidential debate will be reserved for closing statements.

Participants

The CPD 2008 Candidate Selection Criteria, announced on November 21, 2007, will be the exclusive means of determining the candidates to be invited to participate in the debates.