November 6, 2003

Paul G. Kirk, Jr. and Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., co-chairmen of The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), today announced sites and dates for the 2004 general election debates. They are:

First presidential debate:
University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL
Thursday, September 30

Vice presidential debate:
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OH
Tuesday, October 5

Second presidential debate:
Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, MO
Friday, October 8

Third presidential debate:
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ
Wednesday, October 13

The CPD also announced two back-up sites, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY and the University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC. All debates will start at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Kirk and Fahrenkopf said that the finalists were chosen from fourteen formal proposals submitted to the CPD last March. “Each election cycle, we hear from a growing number of communities interested in hosting a debate. We are honored by their commitment to be part of these historic events. Taking the debates to campuses around the country allows the CPD to engage thousands of young people in the political process through first-hand participation.”

The CPD is the non-partisan, non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) corporation that has sponsored all presidential and vice presidential debates since 1988. On September 24, 2003, the CPD announced its 2004 candidate selection criteria. The CPD will announce format recommendations for the 2004 debates early next year.