2008 Debates

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


Courtesy Mark Abraham

GO TO:

September 26

October 2
(vice presidential)

October 7

October 15

 


 

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.

Pool coverage provided by:  CBS

Transcript

Video

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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.

Pool coverage provided by:  CNN

Transcript

Video

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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.

Pool coverage provided by:  CBS

Transcript

Video

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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.

Pool coverage provided by:  ABC

Transcript

Video

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