Politics & Government

What Time Is the VP Debate?

The vice presidential debate between Vice President Joe Biden and Rep. Paul Ryan will be held Oct. 11 at 6 p.m. Pacific time.

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Expectations: Both candidates are facing pressure—with Rep. Paul Ryan trying to build on the momentum from Romney’s strong performance and Vice President Joe Biden expected to give a more passionate, invigorating debate.

Find out what's happening in Millbraewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

With the latest report on the unemployment rate, creating jobs will still be a hot topic between the two debaters. The Obama administration has heralded the 7.8 percent unemployment rate as evidence that the economy is slowly on the mend, while the opposition argues that this number does not accurately account for those who have stopped looking for jobs or signify an economy on the upswing. 

(Vice) Presidential Debate Schedule

October 11, 2012
Vice Presidential

Topic: Foreign and domestic policy 
Air Time: 6-7:30 p.m. Pacific Time
Location: Centre College in Danville, Kentucky (Tickets)
Sponsor: Commission on Presidential Debates
Participants: Vice President Joe Biden and Congressman Paul Ryan
Moderator: Martha Raddatz (ABC News Chief Foreign Correspondent)

Find out what's happening in Millbraewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

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: 6-7:30 p.m. Pacific Time
Location: Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York (Tickets)
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: 6-7:30 p.m. Pacific Time
Location: Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida (Tickets)
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 was on Wednesday, Oct. 3, and analysts and the public largely agreed that Gov. Mitt Romney won the debate.

Check out photos from several debate viewing parties around the Peninsula:

  • At the Republican Center in Burlingame
  • The Democratic Headquarters in Belmont
  • at the Democratic Volunteer Center in Menlo Park
  • Patch's own party in Redwood City

Get a recap of who's running in the 2012 Presidential Election and explore past debates on 2012PresidentialElectionNews.com.

Will you be watching the debates? What is the most important topic, in your opinion? Share your thoughts in the comments.


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