Wake Forest presidential debate to feature new format, familiar moderator

The Wake Forest debate in Wait Chapel will have a talk show-style format with the Democratic and Republican candidates seated around a table with the moderator, journalist Jim Lehrer of PBS’ “NewsHour.” News reports describe the “unprecedented” format as offering “free-flowing table talk.”

Lehrer, who moderated the commission’s 1996 presidential and vice presidential debates, served as moderator of a 1988 presidential debate at Wake Forest between George Bush and Michael Dukakis.

“Wake Forest considers it an honor to host this debate, and we are especially pleased to be the host of a debate with an extraordinary format,” said Sandra C. Boyette, vice president for university advancement, who has been responsible for overseeing Wake Forest preparations for the 1988 and 2000 debates. “We also welcome back Jim Lehrer, who served as an excellent moderator here 12 years ago.”

Including Wake Forest’s Oct. 11 debate, the Commission on Presidential Debates has three presidential debates scheduled this fall: Oct. 3 at the Boston campus of the University of Massachusetts and Oct. 17 at Washington University in St. Louis. The Boston debate will feature a traditional two-lectern format, while the St. Louis debate will have a town hall format. The 90-minute debates will air at 9 p.m. EDT.

A vice presidential debate, also with a talk show format, will be held Oct. 5 at Centre College in Danville, Ky.

In a Sept. 17 announcement, the commission and the candidates described the debate formats in detail. According to the Associated Press, plans call for providing “the moderator more discretion in following up on questions and allowing the candidates to continue to debate a particular topic.”

News about the formats followed a Sept. 14 announcement by the commission that the candidates had agreed to its original schedule for presidential and vice presidential debates. In early September, presidential candidate George W. Bush had proposed an alternative schedule that called for a vice presidential debate at Wake Forest.

“The commission’s announcement was wonderful news, for our students and our community,” said Thomas K. Hearn Jr., Wake Forest president. “We look forward to welcoming both candidates to campus, and we are excited about the educational opportunities that come with hosting a presidential debate.”

Before the commission finalized the debate schedule with candidates, Wake Forest Student Government organized a postcard drive in which students wrote personalized messages to the candidates, either thanking them for agreeing to participate or encouraging them to come to Wake Forest.

Wake Forest teamed last fall with the Winston-Salem Convention and Visitors Bureau to submit a bid to bring a 2000 presidential debate to Wait Chapel. The university has been preparing for the debate since the Commission on Presidential Debates announced the university as a debate site on Jan. 6.

Recently, the university has received a large number of calls from people asking for debate tickets. At this point, the university does not know if it will have tickets to distribute to its students, faculty and staff, as well as members of the public.

Wake Forest students, faculty and staff can begin registering online Sept. 18 to participate in a debate ticket lottery that would provide tickets if they become available. To register, they will access a lottery registration Web page through the university’s Web site. Additional details are being distributed on campus to the university community.

Members of the public interested in registering for a ticket should mail a four-inch by six-inch postcard to the office of Jack Cavanagh Jr., Mayor-City of Winston-Salem, P.O. Box 2511, Winston-Salem, N.C. 27102. Along with their address and phone number, the sender should write the words “debate ticket” on the back of the postcard. All cards must be postmarked by Sept. 25. If tickets become available, a drawing will be held the day of the debate, Oct. 11.