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ABC News Announces Debates

February 07, 2007 3:21 PM

ABC News will produce six live forums for presidential candidates, two in August 2007, two in October 2007, and two in January 2008. 

The first two forums, co-sponsored by ABC NEWS and ABC5/WOI-TV, will be in Iowa, moderated by ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos.  The forums will air nationwide as special editions of This Week with George Stephanopoulos. The Republican forum will be held on Sunday, August 5, 2007. The Democratic forum will be co-sponsored by the Democratic Party of Iowa, and will be held on Sunday, August 19, 2007. David Yepsen, a political columnist for the Des Moines Register, will also question the candidates in these debates.  Both forums will take place in Des Moines, Iowa. 

The remaining four forums will be held in New Hampshire, the first state in the country to hold a primary. The hosts will be ABC News, WMUR-TV, the Hearst-Argyle Television-owned ABC affiliate in Manchester, NH, and the New Hampshire Union Leader, in October 2007 and in January 2008.

George Stephanopoulos will moderate the two October town hall style debates. They will air nationwide in special editions of This Week with George Stephanopoulos.  The January debates will be held the week before the New Hampshire Primary.  Detailed information on the dates, locations and formats of the January debates will be forthcoming. 

Raymond Cole, President/COO of Citadel Communications and Chairman of the ABC Affiliates Board of Governors, said “We are pleased that ABC News recognizes the unique role that Iowans play in the electoral process. Our stations in Des Moines and Sioux City, along with the other ABC stations serving the state are proud to be partners in these special broadcasts from Iowa.”
WMUR General Manager Jeff Bartlett said, “We are very pleased to be offering the voters of New Hampshire these opportunities to see the field of candidates running for president and listen to their ideas and plans for the country. New Hampshire has an important role to play in American politics with its first-in-the-nation primary and WMUR is committed to providing voters with as much information as we can in debates, news coverage, special programming and on our website, WMUR.com, to help them make their decision.”

The New Hampshire Union Leader is the largest and only statewide newspaper in New Hampshire. It has been a dominant voice in the Granite State since its founding in 1863. Its fast-growing online news site, UnionLeader.com, specializes in fast updates of breaking news supplied by more than 40 local reporters and correspondents. The daily newspaper and the web site are part of the Union Leader Corporation, an independently owned company. Joseph W. McQuaid is its president and publisher.

WMUR is the leading source of television news in New Hampshire.   WMUR.com is the most viewed New Hampshire website for local news. WMUR is owned by Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc.  Hearst-Argyle owns 25 television stations, and manages an additional three television and two radio stations,   in   geographically diverse U.S. markets.  The Company's television stations reach approximately 18% of U.S. TV households, making it one of America’s largest television station groups. Hearst-Argyle owns 12 ABC-affiliated stations, and manages an additional ABC station owned by the Hearst Corporation, and is the largest ABC affiliate group.

February 7, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (3)

User Comments

Posted by: frank Sette | Jun 10, 2007 5:09:54 PM

Posted by: Pam from Iowa | Aug 5, 2007 10:41:45 AM

Posted by: Jack Gilman | Aug 5, 2007 2:47:08 PM

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