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Half of first presidential debate to focus on economy
Three of the six topics of debate in the first showdown between President Obama and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney will focus on the economy, according to debate moderator Jim Lehrer.
The Oct. 3 contest will feature six 15-minute segments, three of which will focus on the economy. The presidential candidates will also be quizzed on healthcare, governing, and the role of government.
The final of those topics has engulfed the presidential campaign of late, with campaigns trading barbs based on past statements made by both candidates. Democrats have highlighted Mitt Romney's comments at a fundraiser earlier this year where the Republican nominee said his "job is not to worry about" the 47 percent of Americans "dependent on government," while Republicans have hammered the president for remarks in 1998 where he said he believes in "redistribution."
The first debate will be held at the University of Denver, and candidates will be standing at podiums. Early speculation had been that one of the topics could have been gun control after the theater shooting in nearby Aurora, Colo.
The second debate will be held Oct. 16 at New York's Hofstra University, and will be a town-hall style meeting where swing voters will be allowed to ask candidates about either foreign policy or domestic issues.
The presidential debates will conclude Oct. 22 with a seated discussion at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla. That debate will focus exclusively on foreign policy issues.
A vice presidential debate will be held Oct. 11 at Kentucky's Centre College, and touch on both foreign and domestic issues.
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