First on TVNewser: CNBC will air the first presidential debate to focus on economic issues. The debate among Republican candidates is set for Oct. 9 in Dearborn, Michigan, which, as the center of the American auto industry, has had its own economic challenges. The debate will be live on CNBC at 4pmET and re-broadcast on MSNBC at 9pmET.
>More: The press release is after the jump…
CNBC/MSNBC/WALL STREET JOURNAL SPONSORING REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE OCT. 9TH FOCUSING ON ECONOMIC ISSUES
Debate To Be Held In Heart of America’s Auto Industry, Dearborn, Mich.
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., Sept. 6, 2007—CNBC/MSNBC/The Wall Street Journal announced today that they are jointly sponsoring the first Republican Presidential debate of the 2008 campaign focusing on economic issues. The two-hour debate is scheduled to be held on October 9 in Dearborn, Mich. and will be broadcast live on CNBC, First in Business Worldwide, at 4 PM ET and re-broadcast on MSNBC at 9 PM ET that evening.
The debate will be held at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn, Mich., a suburb of Detroit. The debate format, as well as its moderator, will be determined after further discussions with representatives from the respective campaigns.
“This debate will focus on issues that are at the heart of every Presidential election, namely the economy, taxes, fiscal discipline and government regulation,†said Mark Hoffman, CNBC President. “This will mark the first time in the 2008 presidential campaign that all declared Republican candidates will be asked to provide voters with specific plans for the American economy and American workers in an increasingly global marketplace.â€
“The economy is a core area of our broad campaign coverage, so we’re happy to play a part in focusing the campaign debate there,†said Alan Murray, executive editor for online edition of The Wall Street Journal and former Washington bureau chief who also is in charge the Journal’s partnership with CNBC. “Our sponsorship of a similar debate for Democratic presidential candidates in 2004 was instrumental in framing the debate, and we’re happy to be able to play that role again.â€
Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saulius “Saul†Anuzis said, “This is an opportunity for Michigan to highlight the issues affecting Middle America. Metropolitan Detroit is the home of the Reagan Democrats and this debate on economic issues will give Republican presidential candidates a chance to talk about the issue that affects Michigan families most – jobs.â€
Dearborn, Mich. with a population of more than 97,000, borders the City of Detroit and is home of the world headquarters of the Ford Motor Company.
For more information about the debate, please visit www.CNBC.com