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ABC News, WMUR-TV and Facebook Host Back-To-Back Debates in New Hampshire

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November 26, 2007 9:38 AM

ABC News' Tahman Bradley Reports: Days before Granite State residents head to the polls to vote in the nation's first presidential primary, ABC News, Hearst Argyle's WMUR-TV and Facebook host back-to-back Democratic and Republican presidential debates in New Hampshire on Saturday, Jan 5, 2008.

The 90 minute debates, which take place on the campus of St. Anselm in Manchester, come two days after the Iowa caucuses.

ABC's "World News" anchor Charles Gibson will moderate with additional questions from WMUR anchor and political director Scott Spradling.

The first debate airs at 7:00 pm ET/PT on the ABC Television Network with the second debate immediately following it.

The order of the debates will be decided later by a coin toss.

"Coming on the heels of the Iowa Caucuses, these back-to-back primetime events will let voters in New Hampshire and throughout the country see the candidates challenge each other at a moment in the campaign when the stakes couldn't be higher," ABC News President David Westin said in a statement.

"WMUR is proud of its tradition of informing New Hampshire voters," added WMUR President and General Manager Jeffrey Bartlett. "We're excited to once again produce these important debates."

November 26, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (34)

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How does one get admission to this event? I would really like to personally be in attendance.

Posted by: KelliT | Dec 3, 2007 12:12:18 PM

Will Alan Keyes be included in the Republican debate? I hope he will be included. I'll probably be voting for him.

Posted by: Jeffrey Bean, Jr. | Dec 5, 2007 3:22:05 AM

Alan Keyes addresses the issues of our day in a thoughtful and cogent manner, more so than others in the field. I've been reading his series of articles, "Crisis of the Republic."

It sure would be nice if the people could consider the Ambassador's message before casting their ballots in the days to come.

Keyes says, "What is really to be conserved is the Republic ... [the] Constitution requires that we preserve the Republican form of government, that is to say government of, by and for the people. The crisis of that form of government therefore is the prime crisis of our time ..." and all the problems we debate are systemic to the fundamental premise, that we must restore sovereignty to the people.

I hope you'll invite Ambassador Keyes to participate in the upcoming debate at this moment, " ... when the stakes couldn't be higher."

Posted by: Savvyconsumer | Dec 5, 2007 4:17:27 PM

Good afternoon,

As a strict news organization I would like to think that you would not be partial to any one particular candidate or party?

Can you explain why Alan Keyes is not part of the upcoming debate? He is candidate for President, and the American people would like to see each candidate represented on the stage, so that an informed decision can be made.

How can this happen if a news organization excludes candidates? Please reconsider your position and invite Dr. Alan Keyes.

Posted by: David Sheppard | Dec 12, 2007 5:19:36 PM

Alan Keyes does not belong in any debate. He has no chance and is just another distraction on the stage.

Posted by: imwithmccain | Dec 27, 2007 6:17:36 PM

Former Ambassador Keyes DOES have a chance. Dr. Keyes' message resonates w/ the majority of the American people. That is why the liberal news media do not want Alan Keyes to participate.

Posted by: dymphna | Dec 29, 2007 2:02:27 PM

Keyes is an embarrassment to the Republicans and has never won any election in his life. Let him start off winning the position of dogcatcher (if he can).
FACT - Keyes has never won an election.
FACT - Keyes is not respected by his peers ("doctor, heal thyself").
FACT - Keyes paid himself handsomely from the small donations on his last failed election. While legal, it is highly un-ethical. Especially considering his low-level grass-root donation sources. If he cannot manage a winning campaign (ever) then how can he possibly manage America.
Perhaps Alan should publicly apologize to his daughter and Mary Cheney for his harsh comments first and get his own life in order before trying to boost his speaking fees by running another dismal campaign.
Just look at his heavily censured website's mismanagement of Keyes roller coaster stand on reparations to see how big of a mess he is! Just look at the hundreds of duplicate pledges as he vainly tried to reach 5000 total supporters in the entire country.

Posted by: K Brown | Dec 29, 2007 4:51:22 PM

I would hope that with Alan Keyes now statistically even with Joe Biden and Ron Paul; significantly ahead of Bill Richardson, Dennis Kucinich, Mike Gravel, and Chris Doddof that ABC would have the courage to let a candidate speak who understands both foreign policy and the important domestic issues which challenge America today..
It would be a big step in the free election process, to invite a man who big corporate America does not have in their pocket...

Posted by: Charles Davidson | Dec 29, 2007 5:02:19 PM

When Alan Keyes was appointed Ambassador by Ronarld Reagan he handled the job with distinction, and received numerous commendations. Mr Keyes was excluded by youtube from the Florida debate while he was on the ballot. In the Iowa GOP debate, the moderator repeatedly passed by Mr Keyes not giving him a chance to speak.. Other candidates received one minute to speak while Mr Keyes was told to hold his remarks to 30 second. All these things remind me of what the media was like in South Africa... Mr Keyes is not afraid to discuss things that are praiseworthy or things that not right in America... Is it a surprise that other candidates (who corporate America has in their pocket) just wish Mr Keyes would hush up and sit down? Wake up people, most politics in America is just about deception. If we don't think that many things in America need fixing we deceive ourselves. Self deception is of the worst kind. Alan rocks the boat.. I think the boat needs some rockin and a man whose not afraid to speak the truth. Bring it on Mr Keyes.

Posted by: Lawonda Pierce | Dec 29, 2007 5:58:02 PM

I will be voting for Dr. Keyes in the Florida primaries and so will a number of people I talked to. It was easy. When I would mention Dr. Keyes, they would say I like Dr. Keyes but I didn't know he was running. I would then tell them how the media and the Republican party has excluded him from the debates. It was an easy sell.

Posted by: Mamuel Samuel | Dec 29, 2007 6:57:15 PM

You would think that news organizations, if they truly believed in freedom of the press, freedom of speech and fair elections, would allow all the candidates to debate in New Hampshire. So when they decide not to allow men like Alan Keyes and Ron Paul to debate, men have the upmost respect for these freedoms, ABC AND FOXNEWS are just sending the message to the public that they would rather be the BIG BROTHER network that wants to control your vote.

Posted by: AugJDog | Dec 29, 2007 7:40:33 PM

George Washington never won an election prior to his becoming our president so the point that Alan Keyes has never won an election is irrelevant.

What is relevant is that the American people be allowed to hear the views of a presidential candidate so they can decide for themselves.

Also, Alan isn't the typical candidate in that he is not backed by untold numbers of special interest groups, millionarie/billionaire socialists, or trial lawyers, corrupt union heads, and teachers associations. So the funds he raises are actually from individuals who care about whether or not this country remains a democratic republic or continues to slide down the road paved to Hell which is where every other presidential candidate will take us.

Posted by: Lainie | Dec 29, 2007 9:28:14 PM

Keyes is just another pro-war candidate among many. So what?

Posted by: gao xia en | Dec 30, 2007 12:13:26 AM

It's my understanding that Alan Keyes worked on anti-terrorism as part of his duties in the Reagan Administration, giving him excellent foreign affairs experience. The quotes I have read from Ronald Reagan demonstrate only the utmost confidence in Alan Keyes' abilities, qualifications and contributions as the Assistant Sect'y of State for International Organizations in Reagan's Administration.

Posted by: Savvyconsumer7 | Dec 30, 2007 3:53:23 AM

Alan Keyes worked on nothing - check the record, there is little. As he had no diplomatic responsibilities, all he did was make a few speeches as one of the many associate ambassadors.
No decision were made by him, he was trusted with no special data and he never had a national or international stage.
You may try to (vainly) prove me wrong - try it. Come up with something that he was trusted to make a sole decision upon. You cannot as there were none. The fact that he still calls himself an ambassador is laughable at worst, embarrassing at best.
The latest polls show Keyes at under 1%, even the ones referenced at your silly site.

Posted by: surely you jest | Dec 30, 2007 4:16:32 PM

Will RON PAUL be in this Debate? I have noticed in the previous 2 debates that RON PAUL was given only half the time compared to the other candidates, why? Will ABC and Charles Gibson ensure EQUALITY throughout the debate? both in questions and answers for ALL candidates.

Posted by: Richie Sambo | Dec 30, 2007 9:19:23 PM

Pres. Reagan said, "Alan, ... as my Assistant Secretary of State for International Organizations, you opposed with every ounce of strength in your body all those who have served to foster and legitimatize state-sponsored terrorism."

You can have it all! Alan Keyes 2008!The complete conservative.

P.S.: (Protocol requires that officials be called by their highest title. That's why former presidents are still referred to as, "President" so-and-so, even after leaving office. Since Alan's highest title has been Ambassador, that remains his title. It is correct to refer to Alan as Ambassador Keyes.)

Posted by: savvyconsumer | Dec 31, 2007 1:26:32 AM

It used to be that voters were dependent upon the liberal media, contrived poll questions and orchestrated "debates" for election information. This is the first presidential election where this is no longer true.

Thanks to widespread access to the internet, blogs and editorial comment posts, the truth can no longer be suppressed.

Ambassador Keyes is by far the only candidate who represents the views of mainstream America.

Posted by: Katrinka Yobotz | Dec 31, 2007 2:54:02 PM

I believe that the Jan 5th Presidential Candidate Forum should include all the candidates, including Ron Paul. To exclude them is disappointing, and doesn't represent the fairness for which NH is known. Doesn't ABC want to give the impression of balance in the news? Perhaps your news bias is good for all to see.

Posted by: H. Bloom | Jan 2, 2008 9:27:45 AM

I have only seen Alan Keyes in one debate (I haven't watched them all because of poor reception where I live and no cable), I was surprised that he was still running. I understand how his supporters feel because of the rumours that Ron Paul will be excluded, which I think is definitely a sign of blatant bias on ABC NEWS' part.
Ron Paul is a constitutionalist and has a proven record, Alan Keyes seems to be also, but I do not know that he has as obvious a record to back up what he says he stands for. I am for everyone being represented in a debate, but I also understand the need to limit the size. I understand there are about 50 candidates total running for President who will actually be on the ballot in my state. I don't see how all of them can be included. At some point there has to be a line drawn where some candidates are excluded from some debates at some point after the primaries have begun. What I do not understand is why someone only four percentage points form third place would be excluded! John McCain and Fred Thompson scored 13% each and Ron Paul was only three points behing them and surging. Ron Paul is definitely a viable candidate. It has been clear throughout this campaign that the American people have not been happy with the "top-tier" candidates. I for one have decided to back Ron Paul all the way. If he does not make it, I will vote for no one. The rest are all the same (except maybe Alan Keyes), so it won't make a bit of difference. my conscience will not allow me to vote for the lesser of two evils.
Wake up America! If a President must take an oath to defend the Constitution, doesn't it make sense that we should vote for someone who wants to eliminate all unconstitutional federal government agencies? Duh!
Vote for Ron Paul!

Posted by: Dr. Coleman | Jan 4, 2008 5:07:09 AM

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