# The 1st presidential debate. 9/26/2016. Format question. **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 22, 2016, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-1st-presidential-debate-9-26-2016-format-question/766550 "2016-09-22T00:28:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2016, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-1st-presidential-debate-9-26-2016-format-question/766550/1 "2016-09-22T00:28:40Z")
I’m not real sure I like the format of the upcoming debate. _The first debate will be divided into six time segments of approximately 15 minutes each on major topics to be selected by the moderator and announced at least one week before the debate. The moderator will open each segment with a question, after which each candidate will have two minutes to respond. Candidates will then have an opportunity to respond to each other. The moderator will use the balance of the time in the segment for a deeper discussion of the topic._ underlining mine. > **[2016 Presidential Debate Schedule - Election Central](https://www.uspresidentialelectionnews.com/2016-debate-schedule/2016-presidential-debate-schedule/)** > > The dates and venues have been announced for the 2016 Presidential debates between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. The date for the Vice Presidential debate between Tim Kaine and Mike Pence has also Announcing the questions a week before the debate won’t allow us to hear the candidates spontaneous view but the sanitized view of his/her handlers. “Tell them what they want to hear, not what you think” will work well for one of the candidates. This is also the format for the third debate. This is disappointing to me. Has it always been like this? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2016, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-1st-presidential-debate-9-26-2016-format-question/766550/2 "2016-09-22T00:31:32Z")
That says the \*topics \*will be announced, not the questions themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2016, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-1st-presidential-debate-9-26-2016-format-question/766550/3 "2016-09-22T00:31:38Z")
Maybe a mod could correct the date in the title to 9/26/2016. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2016, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-1st-presidential-debate-9-26-2016-format-question/766550/4 "2016-09-22T03:47:24Z")
> [@](#): > > Subject to possible changes because of news developments, the topics for the September 26 debate are as follows, not necessarily to be brought up in this order: > > America’s Direction > Achieving Prosperity > Securing America Yeah-they’ll surely be able to prepare ahead for those narrow topics. [http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-media/2016/09/topics-for-first-presidential-debate-announced-228378](http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-media/2016/09/topics-for-first-presidential-debate-announced-228378) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2016, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-1st-presidential-debate-9-26-2016-format-question/766550/5 "2016-09-22T04:26:35Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Maybe a mod could correct the date in the title to 9/26/2016. > Thanks Done.