Debate Format

The California Governor’s Debate at Dominican University on October 12 will feature candidates Democrat Jerry Brown and Republican Meg Whitman.   Tom Brokaw of NBC News will moderate the one hour debate.

Held before a live audience inside Dominican’s historic Angelico Hall, the debate will focus on addressing the state’s key issues during this critical time for California voters.

Brokaw will question both candidates. Questions and topics are at the discretion of the moderator.

In the 2008 presidential election cycle, Brokaw moderated the second presidential debate between then Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois) and Senator John McCain (R-Arizona).

Invitations to participate in the debate were sent to candidates polling higher than 10 percent  in statewide polls, including the winning candidates from the June 8th Republican and Democratic primaries.

Prior to the primaries, a Los Angeles Times/USC poll of 1,506 registered voters surveyed indicated Brown would receive 44 percent, Whitman 38 percent and all other candidates 5 percent if a general election were held in May.

On July 30, the Public Policy Institute of California released a Fields poll with Brown receiving  37 percent and Whitman 34 percent . Other candidates listed in the PPI poll accounted for 6 percent.

In a SurveyUSA poll in August, Whitman received 47 percent, Brown 40 percent and other candidates 9 percent.

In a Rasmussen Reports poll released September 6, Whitman received 46 percent to Brown’s 42 percent in a voter survey. Alternative party candidates received 4 percent.

In a CNN-Time Opinion Research poll conducted September 2-7, Whitman received 48 percent and Brown 46 percent. “None/neither” rec eived 3 percent and “other” candidates received less than 1 percent.

In a Fox News/Pulse Opinion Research poll conducted September 11, Whitman received 49 percent, Brown 43 percent and “Some other candidate” 4 percent.