Commission on Debates Rejects Prompt Signing of Campaigns' Accord on the Events

Although the campaigns have agreed in principal to the upcoming debates, a list of rules may derail at least one debate.

The document outlines rules for all the debates, but concentrates on the town hall style meeting scheduled for St. Louis. The guidelines concern the questions, the questioners, and the moderator of the debate.

In addition, the guidelines submitted by the campaigns require that not only the Commission agree and sign the document, but also the moderator of the event must sign. Thus far the moderators are hesitant.

The document also requires that the document be signed by all participants, the commission, and the moderators seven days in advance of the first debate. That means it needs to be signed by tomorrow.

The Commissionn has rejected that deadline saying that the candidates invited to the debates will not be decided until Friday.

So, how many debates will there be?

The New York Times > Washington > Campaign 2004 > Commission on Debates Rejects Prompt Signing of Campaigns' Accord on the Events