Gov: Debate Schedule Set

Gubernatorial candidates Rep. Ted Strickland (D-Lisbon) and Secretary of State Ken Blackwell (R-Cincinnati) have agreed to four debates:

9/5 at 12:00 noon in Youngstown, no set topic, hosted by the Youngstown Vndicator and WFMJ-TV

9/20 at 12:00 noon in Cleveland, on education, hosted by WEWS-TV and the Call & Post Newspapers

10/4 at 7:00 pm in Cincinnati, on the economy, hosted by Cincinnati Chamber and Debate USA Alliance

10/16 at 7:00 pm in Columbus, no set topic, host to be announced

Each debate will have a moderator and either media or citizen questioners. All debates will be 60 minutes in length, with three minute opening statements, questions answered via 90-second responses, 60-second rebuttals and 30-second clarifications, if necessary, and two-minute closing statements. Media credentialing will be conducted by the sponsoring organizations. On-site ticketing for each event will be limited, using guidelines negotiated by the two campaigns. All events will offer live pool feeds for other interested media outlets.

The City Club of Cleveland and a consortium of Ohio's largest newspapers have been shut out as debate hosts because they would not accede to demands by one or both of the campaigns.