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2012 Presidential Debate Schedule

The dates and venues have been announced for the 2012 Presidential debates between President Obama and Governor Mitt Romney. The date for the Vice Presidential debate has also been announced.

October 3, 2012
President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney

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Topic
: Domestic policy
Location: University of Denver in Denver, Colorado
Participants: President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney
Moderator: Jim Lehrer (Host of NewsHour on PBS)

The debate will focus on domestic policy and be divided into six time segments of approximately 15 minutes each on topics to be selected by the moderator and announced several weeks before the debate.

The moderator will open each segment with a question, after which each candidate will have two minutes to respond. The moderator will use the balance of the time in the segment for a discussion of the topic.

October 11, 2012
Vice Presidential
Vice President Joe Biden and Representative Paul Ryan

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Topic:
Foreign and domestic policy
Location: Centre College in Danville, Kentucky
Participants: Vice President Joe Biden and Congressman Paul Ryan
Moderator: Martha Raddatz (ABC News Chief Foreign Correspondent)

The debate will cover both foreign and domestic topics and be divided into nine time segments of approximately 10 minutes each. The moderator will ask an opening question, after which each candidate will have two minutes to respond. The moderator will use the balance of the time in the segment for a discussion of the question.

October 16, 2012
President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney

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Topic:
Town meeting format including foreign and domestic policy
Location: Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York
Participants: President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney
Moderator: Candy Crowley (CNN Chief Political Correspondent)

The second presidential debate will take the form of a town meeting, in which citizens will ask questions of the candidates on foreign and domestic issues. Candidates each will have two minutes to respond, and an additional minute for the moderator to facilitate a discussion. The town meeting participants will be undecided voters selected by the Gallup Organization.

October 22, 2012
President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney

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Topic:
Foreign policy
Location: Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida
Participants: President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney
Moderator: Bob Schieffer (Host of Face the Nation on CBS)

The format for the debate will be identical to the first presidential debate and will focus on foreign policy.