Commission announces formats for presidential debates

Wednesday July 25, 2012 6:35 PM By Lane Filler

Photo credit: AP Photo Ron Edmonds | Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., answers a question as Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., listens during a presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

We knew there’d be debates. Now we know what they’ll look like.

Formats of the three presidential debates this fall, including one slated for Hofstra, have been announced. Ditto for the single vice-presidential debate.

Each verbal slugfest will begin at 9 p.m. and last 90 minutes. The first presidential debate will be held Oct. 3 at the University of Denver, and will focus on domestic policy, with candidates addressing six pre-chosen topics.

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Hofstra gets its shot on Oct. 16, with a town-hall style event in which swing voters will ask the presidential contenders policy questions about either foreign or domestic policy. The presidential debate at Hofstra four years ago focused only on domestic issues.

The final presidential debate will be held Oct. 22 at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla., where the focus will be entirely on foreign policy.

And the vice-presidential debate will be held Oct. 11 at Centre College in Danville, Ky.

Pictured above: Barack Obama answers a question John McCain listens during a presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. (Oct. 15, 2008)

Tags: debate , hofstra , commission on presidential debates