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''Main Article: [[2008 Presidential Debates]]''

''Main Article: [[2008 Presidential Debates]]''

There will be three [[Presidential Debates|presidential debates]] for the 2008 election season.  The first debate was held on September 26th, at the University of Mississippi.  The topic for the debate was "Foreign Policy & National Security." The debate also talked in length about the economy. It was moderated by Jim Lehrer. The debate was a podium debate, broken into 9 nine-minute segments. The moderator introduced a topic, and then each candidate had 2 minutes to comment. Following their answers, there was 5 minutes of open discussion on the topic, facilitated by the moderator.  The result was a statistical draw where both candidates did better than expected in the eyes of the public.  The longer term impact worked out well for Obama who already had a lead going in, and benefited from solidfying that position.

There have been three [[Presidential Debates|presidential debates]] for the 2008 election season.  The first debate was held on September 26th, at the University of Mississippi.  The topic for the debate was "Foreign Policy & National Security." The debate also talked in length about the economy. It was moderated by Jim Lehrer. The debate was a podium debate, broken into 9 nine-minute segments. The moderator introduced a topic, and then each candidate had 2 minutes to comment. Following their answers, there was 5 minutes of open discussion on the topic, facilitated by the moderator.  The result was a statistical draw where both candidates did better than expected in the eyes of the public.  The longer term impact worked out well for Obama who already had a lead going in, and benefited from solidfying that position.

The second debate was held on October 7th, at Belmont University in Nashville, TN.  The moderator was Tom Brokaw, and the debate was in a town hall-style.  The questions came from audience members and the Internet, as chosen by the moderator.  After each question, the candidates will had two minutes each to respond, as well as a one-minute followup to the opposing candidate's response.  Again the result was a statical draw as far as who was considered to be the winner.  But with time running out for McCain, he needed something to make the poll numbers move, and that required a clear breakthrough.   

The second debate was held on October 7th, at Belmont University in Nashville, TN.  The moderator was Tom Brokaw, and the debate was in a town hall-style.  The questions came from audience members and the Internet, as chosen by the moderator.  After each question, the candidates will had two minutes each to respond, as well as a one-minute followup to the opposing candidate's response.  Again the result was a statical draw as far as who was considered to be the winner.  But with time running out for McCain, he needed something to make the poll numbers move, and that required a clear breakthrough.   

The final debate will be held on October 15th, at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY.  The topic for the debate is "Domestic and Economic Policy" and will be moderated by Bob Schieffer.  The candidates will be seated at a table, as opposed to behind a podium, and the format will follow that of the first debate.  In addition, though, the candidates will be given an opportunity to present a 90-second closing argument.

The final debate was held on October 15th, at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY.  The topic for the debate was "Domestic and Economic Policy" and was moderated by Bob Schieffer.  The candidates were seated at a table, as opposed to behind a podium, and the format followed that of the first debate.  In addition, though, the candidates were given an opportunity to present a 90-second closing argument.

===Vice Presidential Debate===

===Vice Presidential Debate===