Schieffer to Moderate Final Presidential Debate, Here's What to Expect

Tonight will be the 3rd and final Presidential debate of the 2012 general election. Here’s what to expect.

Location:
Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida

Moderator: Bob Schieffer

The 75-year-old Schieffer has been with CBS News since 1969. He has covered all four major Washington assignments: the White House, Pentagon, State Department & Congress. His previous debate moderator experience includes at 2004 debate between George W. Bush and John Kerry and a 2008 debate between Barack Obama and John McCain. He has won six Emmy Awards and was named Broadcaster of the Year in 2002 by the National Press Foundation. Schieffer’s brother, Tom, is a Democrat but is also a former business partner of George W. Bush who was appointed by Bush to be U.S. Ambassador to Australia from 2001-2005 and to Japan 2005-2009.

Schieffer has been publicly critical of the Obama campaign for their demonization of Romney’s private equity record. But Newsbusters also pointed out some nuggets from Schiffer’s past that will make conservatives cringe. “Will Liberal Bob Schieffer Be the Next Candy Crowley?” was their headline this morning.

Format:
Tonight’s debate will consist of six 15-minute time segments focusing on a variety of topics regarding foreign policy. Each 15-minute segment will begin with a question that each candidate will have 2 minutes to answer. Following the responses from each question, the moderator will steer the discussion for the remainder of the segment. The debate will last for 90 minutes.

Topics (Not necessarily in this order):
– America’s role in the world
– Our longest war – Afghanistan and Pakistan
– Red Lines – Israel and Iran
– The Changing Middle East and the New Face of Terrorism – I
– The Changing Middle East and the New Face of Terrorism – II
– The Rise of China and Tomorrow’s World

With plenty of time to plan an answer, will Obama be able to defend his administration’s confusion in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack in Benghazi? Will Romney be able to deliver a clear message on diverse foreign policy topics which is not perceived to be his strong suit?

The Hill listed several other potential issues that could provoke interesting answers. Does President Obama still intend to close Gitmo? If so, How? Why shouldn’t Americans know the criteria you use to decide that the U.S. government may kill terrorist suspects? Would Romney revoke the executive order banning “enhanced interrogation techniques”?

What do you expect tonight?