Presidential and Vice Presidential Debates PBS Journalists to Moderate First Two Debates of the Presidential Election Jim Lehrer of the NewsHour will moderate the first debate between Senators Barack Obama and John McCain on September 26.  Lehrer, who has anchored the NewsHour since 1975, has moderated the first candidate debate for every Presidential election since 1988 when then Vice President George H. W. Bush squared-off against Governor Michael Dukakis. The next debate on the schedule is October 2 and it is the only vice presidential debate scheduled. Gwen Ifill will moderate the debate between the two candidates for V.P. for the second consecutive presidential election cycle. The entire debate schedule: First presidential debate - Friday, September 26 University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS Moderated by Jim Leher, Executive Editor and Anchor, The NewsHour, PBS Vice presidential debate - Thursday, October 2 Washington University in St. Louis, MO Moderated by Gwen Ifill, Senior Correspondent, The NewsHour, and Moderator and Managing Editor, Washington Week, PBS Second presidential debate - Tuesday, October 7 Belmont University, Nashville, TN Moderated by Tom Brokaw - Special Correspondent, NBC News Third presidential debate - Wednesday, October 15 Hofstra University, Hempstead, N.Y. Moderated by Bob Schieffer, CBS News Chief Washington Correspondent, and Host, Face the Nation Each debate will begin at 9:00 p.m. For more information about the debates including the debate formats visit the web site for the non-profit Commission on Presidential Debates. NPR and NewsHour 2008 Election Map

Get State-by-State analysis on all the 2008 Presidential Primaries and Caucuses.

Presidential campaign news stories from Maine Things Considered

Tom Allen Endorses Sen. Barack Obama
Reported By: A.J. Higgins    Date Aired: 5/12/2008

Congressman Tom Allen has announced he will support Illinois Sen. Barack Obama as the Democrats presidential nominee. That means half of Maine's eight so-called superdelegates have committed to Obama with Gov. John Baldacci the lone holdout for Senator Hillary Clinton. Allen says both candidates are "supremely qualified" to be president, but he believes it is time to bring a "graceful end" to the primary campaign.

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Superdelegates Say Clinton-Obama Competition Good for the Party
Reported By: A.J. Higgins   Date Aired: 4/3/2008
A lot has happened since Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama made their pitch to the party faithful during Maine's presidential caucuses. Both candidates remain locked in a tight race. One superdelegate and two potential delegates from Maine say that, at least for the moment, the competition is good for the party.

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Making The Case Against The Caucus
Reported By: Tom Porter   Date Aired: 2/18/2008
Many regarded this month's Maine Democratic Party Caucus as a triumph of democracy in action. However, Maine author and independent journalist Colin Woodard feels that many thousands of people standing in the snow last weekend may not have bothered if they had known how little their opinions really mattered.
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Superdelegates May Not Feel Obligation to Follow Rank and File
Reported By: AJ Higgins   Date Aired: 2/11/2008
Maine has 10 superdelegates who are free to cast their votes for whomever they choose. Some may be surprised to learn that, for the moment, prominent superdelegates like Gov. John Baldacci do not feel obligated to honor the popular choice of Maine's rank-and-file Democrats.
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Clinton and Obama to Pay Close Attention to Maine Caucuses
Reported By: Keith McKeen   Date Aired: 2/8/2008
The tight Democratic Presidential race has Senators Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama eyeing Maine's tiny 24 member delegate pool. As a result, political stand-ins and the candidates themselves are making their way to Maine this week, hoping to boost their fortunes in Sunday's Caucuses.

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MPBN's "Speaking in Maine" features Colby College’s "Know Before You Vote" lecture series.

Colby Professor of Education Mark Tappan discussed the issues facing the presidential candidates with respect to education, and gives voters the basics on the educational platforms of the political parties and the presidential candidates. This is the third installment of the “Know Before You Vote” lecture series at Colby College in Waterville. This is web-exclusive audio that was not broadcast on MPBN Radio.

Colby College Professor of Education Mark Tappan:

"Know Before You Vote -- Education "

Colby College Professor of Government Ken Rodman discussed the foreign policy issues facing the presidential candidates and provided the basics on the foreign policy platforms of the political parties and the presidential candidates in “Know Before You Vote: Foreign Policy" that aired Tuesday, March 4 at 1:00 pm on MPBN Radio. This is the second in the "Know Before You Vote" series to be broadcast on MPBN's "Speaking in Maine" radio program.

Colby College Professor of Government Ken Rodman:

"Know Before You Vote -- Foreign Policy"

Colby College Professor of Economics Michael Donihue addressed the economic issues relevant to the election on Tuesday, February 26 on MPBN's "Speaking in Maine" series. What are the economic issues that will face the presidential candidates and the next administration? Mr. Donihue gives voters the basics on the economic policy platforms of the political parties and the presidential candidates.

Colby College Professor of Economics Michael Donihue:

"Know Before You Vote -- The Economy"

Obama Wins Maine Democratic Caucuses Sunday, Feb. 10

Senator Barack Obama was in Maine on Saturday, February 9 for a rally at the Bangor Auditorium. He visited Maine in advance of the Sunday, Feb. 10 Democratic caucuses in the state, urging his supporters to caucus for him. MPBN recorded his speech, and we're happy to make it available in both streaming audio and podcast formats.

Saturday, Feb. 9 speech in Bangor, Maine by Senator Barack Obama:

	Sen. Barack Obama (Total time: 51:27) Windows Media:
	Podcast:

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