Debates

The Commission on Presidential Debates organized three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate in September 2004. Michael Badnarik of Libertarian Party candidate & David Cobb of Green Party candidate were arrested while trying to access the debates. Michael Badnarik attempted to serve papers to the Commission on Presidential Debates.

On September 30 the first debate was held under Jim Lehrer of PBS at the University of Miami. In this debate, the topic discussed was "War on Terror", the War in Iraq and America's international relations instead of focusing on domestic policy. Bush was accused by John Kerry for not getting the international support when Iraq was invaded in 2003. Kerry said that only United Kingdom and Australia supported the America. Bush defended by saying, "Well, actually, he forgot Poland." An opinion shaped by the participating members of the debate that Kerry won the debate decisively.

The Vice Presidential debate was held on 5th October under the heading of Gwen Ifill of PBS, between Dick Cheney & John Edwards at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. In this debate also invasion of Iraq was focused and the "War on Terror". Cheney was declared winner in a poll by ABC, while Edwards was declared winner by CNN and MSNBC.

The second presidential debate was headed by Charles Gibson of ABC on October 8 at the Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. This was somewhat informal debate in which Bush and Kerry were questioning on different topics. The last & third debate was held on October 13 at Arizona State University. This debate was watched by millions of people live.