Presidential Debate Time Tonight: Live Stream, Where to Watch Online & on TV - 2012 First Debate (9PM ET)
The first Presidential Debate takes place on Wednesday evening. Coverage time is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. ET and will be televised on ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, as well as cable news channels C-SPAN, CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC. The debate can also be watched online through an official live stream through the video player below, with coverage beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
TO WATCH THE THIRD PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE ONLINE CLICK HERE
With this year's presidential election set to be a closely fought affair, and with millions across the nation disillusioned and still unsure who to vote for, tonight's debate could go a long way to deciding who will be in the White House following the election on November 6.
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This first debate will be taking place at the University of Denver in Colorado.
Some analysts have estimated that up to 80 million will tune into this first debate, which will see President Barack Obama and Republican candidate Mitt Romney debate on domestic policy issues.
The debate will last for 90 minutes and be hosted by Jim Lehrer, host of PBS' NewsHour.
Tonight's event will be composed in a format whereby six major segments will be debated. Each segment is scheduled to be strictly kept to 15 minutes each, with three segments focusing on the economy, one on health care, another on the role of the government, and the final one on governing.
Following tonight's debate there will be two further presidential debates, which will take place on Oct. 16 and Oct. 22.
There will also be a Vice-Presidential debate between Vice-President Joe Biden and Congressman Paul Ryan, which is scheduled to take place on Oct. 11.
Below is the full schedule of the Presidential Debates 2012:
October 3, 2012
Topic: Domestic policy
Air Time: 9:00-10:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Location: University of Denver in Denver, Colorado
Sponsor: Commission on Presidential Debates
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
Topic: Foreign and domestic policy
Air Time: 9:00-10:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Location: Centre College in Danville, Kentucky
Sponsor: Commission on Presidential Debates
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
Topic: Town meeting format including foreign and domestic policy
Air Time: 9:00-10:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Location: Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York
Sponsor: Commission on Presidential Debates
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
Topic: Foreign policy
Air Time: 9:00-10:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Location: Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida
Sponsor: Commission on Presidential Debates
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.
The first Presidential Debate is scheduled to commence at 9 p.m. ET, with coverage beginning at 8 p.m. ET, and can be watched online through the official live stream below.
