GOP White House hopefuls to debate economy in October

Bloomberg News and The Washington Post will host a Republican presidential primary debate in October.

According to a press release, the debate, scheduled for Oct. 11, will focus on economic issues concerning what "voters say they care about most: jobs, deficit, taxes and the economy."

So far, the Post-Bloomberg debate is the first 2012 presidential debate scheduled to focus singly on the American economy.

The debate comes as many high-profile Republicans are weighing a jump into the presidential sweepstakes, while visiting early primary states like New Hampshire.

The debate's topic will be a familiar one for most of the potential GOP presidential field. While only a few possible Republican candidates have gone as far as announcing the formation of an exploratory committee, the group of likely candidates have strongly criticized President Obama on the economy.

On Monday, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R), who has set up a presidential exploratory committee, released a Web video claiming Obama doesn't have the right policies to solve the U.S.'s fiscal woes.

Likewise, in March, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R), who is considering running for president, criticized Obama's economic policies in the president's hometown of Chicago.