'Meet the Press' Senate Debate Series Begins This Sunday, Sept. 28

The 'Meet the Press' award-winning 'Senate Debate Series' continues in 2008 with live debates from the Colorado and New Mexico Senate races.

nbcnews.com - September 23, 2008

(PRNewsChannel) / New York, NY / As the longest running program on television, NBC's "Meet the Press" has a proud history of presenting its viewers with the very best in political debate. This election year will be no exception.

On September 28 and October 12, "Meet the Press" will again devote a portion of the broadcast to a special series of Senate Debates with candidates from two of the most interesting and competitive races in the country. The debates will be moderated by Tom Brokaw and will originate live, from the NBC Studios in Washington, D.C.

The Senate races in Colorado and New Mexico are two of the most closely watched races in the west this year with candidates competing for the right to replace retiring Senators. On Sunday, September 28, Brokaw will moderate a live debate between Rep. Mark Udall (D) and former Rep. Bob Schaffer (R), and on Sunday, October 12, between Rep. Tom Udall (D) and Rep. Steve Pearce (R).

"Meet the Press" created its "Senate Debate Series" in 2002 with Tim Russert hosting debates from Colorado, South Carolina and Louisiana. The series was well received and went on to win the prestigious USC Annenberg Walter Cronkite Award for "Excellence in Television Political Journalism."

In 2004, "Meet the Press" continued the Debate Series with much success featuring the Senate races from South Dakota, Oklahoma, Colorado and South Carolina.

And in 2006, with control of both houses of Congress hanging in the balance, more than 20 million viewers tuned in for the third installment of the series featuring the Senate races from Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio, Missouri, Minnesota and Maryland.

Press wishing to cover the debate from the NBC studios in Washington, please contact  to make prior arrangements.

"Meet the Press" is seen on the NBC Television Network from 9-10 a.m. ET in most markets. In Washington D.C. and New York City, the broadcast is seen from 10:30-11:30 a.m. ET. In Colorado, the program runs at 9 a.m. MT in Denver and Colorado Springs. In New Mexico, the program runs at 8 a.m. MT in Gran Junction and at 9 a.m. MT in Albuquerque.

Please check local listings or the "Meet the Press" website (www.mtp.msnbc.com) for television and radio broadcast times in your area.

Betsy Fischer is the executive producer of "Meet the Press." Michelle Jaconi and Rebecca Samuels are the producers.

Media Contact: Jenny Tartikoff
Press Manager - NBC News Communications and Media Relations
Phone: (212) 664-2271
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Source Web Site: nbcnews.com