The Orbis

The agreement is not yet final, but the candidates have tentatively set the dates for the debates.

The first debate will be in Florida on Sept. 30. The discussion will be focused on foreign policy. The second debate will be in Missouri on Oct. 8. Here, the candidates will answer questions from undecided voters in the format of a townhall meeting. The third debate will be in Arizona on Oct. 13. This final showdown will revolve around domestic issues.

Vice President Dick Cheney and Sen. John Edwards will debate in Ohio on Oct. 5. All four presidential and vice-presidential debates will be televised, beginning at 9 p.m. Eastern time and running 90 minutes.

Both candidates view the debates as a chance to sway undecided voters at the last minute. The race has been extremely close, although Bush has pulled ahead in recent polls. Still, everything could change after the debates.

Bush originally opposed having a town-meeting style debate, citing distrust in the selection process for the people who would be asking the questions. The Gallup Organization will be selecting undecided voters from the St. Louis area to participate in this debate. Nonetheless, Bush finally agreed, partly due to the importance of Missouri as a swing state and partly to avoid being seen as ducking Kerry.

Both candidates are touted as excellent debaters. A great deal hangs in the balance; in an election as important as this one, even a tiny mistake could completely switch the balance of power. Spaced over two weeks just before the frantic homestretch to election day, the debates come at a strategically important time. The presidential debates of 2004 have the potential to decide the election themselves.

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