BF2S Forums Belmont University Presidential Debate 10/7

------------------------------------------------------------------07 October 2008 20:00:00 CDT

Tuesday's match-up at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., will be moderated by NBC's Tom Brokaw, with the questions to be culled from a group of 100 to 150 uncommitted likely voters in the audience and another one-third to come via the Internet. The Gallup Organization -- as in past debates like this -- has the job of making sure the questioners reflect the demographic makeup of the nation.

• Brokaw selects the questions to ask from written queries submitted prior to the debate, according to the "contract."
• An audience member will not be allowed to switch questions. Under the deal, the moderator may not ask followups or make comments. The person who asks the question will not be allowed a follow-up either, and his or her microphone will be turned off after the question is read. A camera shot will only be shown of the person asking -- not reacting.
• While there will be director's chairs (with backs and foot rests), McCain and Obama will be allowed to stand -- but they can't roam past their "designated area" to be marked on the stage. McCain and Obama are not supposed to ask each other direct questions.
• As in all the debates, the contenders cannot bring in notes, though they can take them once at the lectern.

The Belmont debate is the only official Town Hall Debate. Participants asking questions of the candidates will be chosen by the Gallup Organization. Belmont will have no control of the selection of participants.

Most of the questions will come from 100 undecided voters from the Nashville area pre-selected by the Gallup polling organization.

At a campaign event in Denver, Colorado, last week, a voter asked McCain when he was going to "let the gloves come off and go after" Obama. McCain's response: "How about Tuesday night?"

"If Senator McCain wants to have a character debate, I am happy to have that debate,"  Obama said Monday