Presidential Debate Schedule Set

President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney will meet for three prime-time debates in October, a schedule released by the Commission on Presidential Debates shows.

The first, which will focus on domestic policy, is set for Oct. 3 at the University of Denver in Denver, Colo., the city that hosted the 2008 Democratic convention. A second meeting in a town-hall format will take place Oct. 16 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., and the final meeting, focusing on foreign policy, will be held Oct. 22 at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla.

The vice presidential contenders – incumbent Democrat Joe Biden and the not-yet-named GOP candidate–will debate only once, on Oct. 11 at Centre College in Danville, Ky., over domestic and foreign policy.

Each debate will be moderated by one person, and the moderators will be announced in August, the commission announced.  Candidates will be allowed to make closing statements, but not opening ones. They will be broadcast from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. ET. (Continues)