The Obama and McCain campaigns have agreed to an unusual free-flowing format for the first of four nationally televised debates. The first exchange focusing on foreign policy issues kicks off Friday September 26 at the University of Mississippi.

Debate day, Democrat Barack Obama will work out or shoot hoops. Republican John McCain plans to host a town hall meeting and take a short nap. But the exchange between the presidential candidates will be anything but relaxed.

The Commission on Presidential Debates, which is sponsoring the forums, expects the exchanges to be among the most watched presidential debates in history.

Republican nominee John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama face off in the first presidential debate Friday, September 26 9pm et, 6pm pst at the University of Mississippi.

Word from both political camps: "Expect fireworks!"

Both campaigns see the four debates as pivotal moments in a presidential race that is not only extraordinarily close but also drawing intense interest from voters; roughly 40 million viewers watched the major speeches at the two parties' conventions. The upheaval in the financial markets has recast the race in recent days, which both sides believe will only heighten attention for the debates.

The McCain camp fought for and won a much more structured approach for the questioning at the vice presidential debate set for October 2 at Washington State University (St. Louis).  At the insistence of the McCain campaign, the debate between Republican VP nominee, Gov. Sarah Palin and her Democratic rival, Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. will have shorter question and answer segments than those for the presidential nominees. There will also be much less opportunity for free flowing, direct exchanges between the running mates.

McCain advisers said they had been concerned that a loose format could leave Ms. Palin, a relatively inexperienced debater, at a disadvantage and largely on the defensive.

Obama successfully sought to flip the proposed topics for the first and third debates, so foreign policy is now coming first and economic and other domestic issues come last.

The debate commission had proposed that the first debate be on economic issues and the third on foreign policy - because the first debate is usually the most watched, and many voters rank the economy as their top concern.

Obama wanted foreign policy issues first to show viewers that he could provide depth, strength and intelligence on those issues. He wanted the final exchange to focus on domestic issues. Both campaigns agree the election is most likely to turn on the state of the economy.

All four debates will begin at 9 pm ET,  6pm PST and last for 90 minutes and will be broadcast on CBS, NBC, ABC, and FOX, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, and C-SPAN. 

Riverside Obama will host a ‘debate watching party, Friday, September 26, 5:30 pm at Riverside Marriott, 3400 Market Street; food, cash bar, surprise guests, $5.00 per person.

Contact Jose Medina (909) 645-3567.