Bob McCarty Writes

Today, Paul G. Kirk, Jr. and Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr. announced the finalized formats of the 2008 presidential and vice presidential debates agreed to by the Obama and McCain campaigns.  In calling them “a breakthrough in the history of televised debates,” however, the co-chairmen of The Commission on Presidential Debates may have exaggerated a bit.

Delivered in a news release today, details about the debate formats are as follows:

• Each debate will begin at 8 p.m. Central [Note: According to this page of the CPD web site, each debate will last 90 minutes];

• The first presidential debate will focus on foreign policy and national security.  Moderated by Jim Lehrer of the Public Broadcasting System, the debate will take place Friday at the University of Mississippi in Oxford.  Two-minute answers will be followed by five-minute discussions of each question.

• The only vice presidential debate will cover all topics.  Moderated by Gwen Ifill, the debate will take place Thursday, Oct. 2, at Washington University in St. Louis.  Candidates will receive 90 seconds to answer and two-minute discussion periods will follow each question.  The debate will conclude with two-minute closing statements by each candidate.

• The second presidential debate will include all topics in a town meeting format moderated by Tom Brokaw.  Taking place Oct. 7 at Belmont University in Nashville, the format includes two-minute answers followed by one-minute discussions of each question.

• The third and final presidential debate will highlight economic and domestic policy matters.  Moderated by Bob Schieffer, it will take place Oct. 15 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y.  Candidates will be allowed two minutes to answer to each question and five-minute discussion periods will follow.  At the end of the question-and-answer session, each candidate will receive two minuts to deliver a closing statement.

Re: Exaggeration — While this news about the formats is welcome, it fails to address concerns raised three days ago by ten pro-democracy groups.  To learn more about those concerns, read Groups Want Secret Debate Contract Made Public:.