Foreign Policy Debate - Opening: Jim Lehrer introduces ca...

MR. LEHRER: Good evening from the Ford Center for the Performing

Arts at the University of Mississippi in Oxford. I'm Jim Lehrer of

"The NewsHour" on PBS, and I welcome you to the first of the 2008

presidential debates between the Republican nominee, Senator John

McCain of Arizona, and the Democratic nominee, Senator Barack Obama of

Illinois.

The Commission on Presidential Debates is the sponsor of this

event, and the three other presidential and vice presidential debates

coming in October.

Tonight's will primarily be about foreign policy and national

security, which by definition includes the global financial crisis.

It will be divided roughly into nine-minute segments. Direct

exchanges between the candidates and moderator follow-ups are

permitted after each candidate has two minutes to answer the lead

question in an order determined by a coin toss.

The specific subjects and questions were chosen by me. They have

not been shared or cleared with anyone.

The audience here in the hall has promised to remain silent -- no

cheers, no applause, no noise of any kind -- except right now, as we

welcome Senators Obama and McCain. (Cheers, applause.)

Let me begin with something General Eisenhower said in his 1952

presidential campaign. Quote, "We must achieve both security and

solvency. In fact, the foundation of military strength is economic

strength," end quote.

With that in mind, the first lead question: Gentlemen, at this

very moment tonight, where do you stand on the financial recovery

plan?

First response to you, Senator Obama. You have two minutes.