July 20, 2007
Posted: July 20th, 2007 03:31 PM ET

Watch Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer, right, and Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, left, announce the upcoming CNN/YouTube GOP presidential debate.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Florida Gov. Charlie Crist announced Friday that the Republican Party of Florida will team up with CNN and YouTube to host a groundbreaking GOP presidential debate in September at the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg.

For the first time in Republican presidential debate history, voters will utilize state-of-the-art video technology to directly question the presidential candidates on the pressing issues of the day.

“We are pleased that our Republican presidential candidates will have another opportunity to discuss the issues that are important to Florida’s voters,” Crist said. “This is a testament to the leadership of the Florida Legislature, which wisely made Florida a more important player in the presidential nominating process by moving Florida’s primary date forward.”

Crist is referring to Sunshine State lawmakers’ decision to move its primary up to Jan. 29, 2008 – much to the chagrin of the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee. It will now be the largest early state to vote in the presidential primaries and serve as the gateway into Feb. 5, 2008 when as many as 20-plus states hold nominating contests.

Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, immediately committed to participating in the debate.

“This debate is an unprecedented opportunity for people across the nation to ask the Republican presidential candidates where they stand on the issues that are important to them, using mediums that are integral to the 2008 presidential election cycle - CNN and YouTube,” said Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer. “The debate is further evidence of Florida’s growing and prominent role in the 2008 Presidential election cycle, and we are excited to partner with CNN and YouTube to bring the Republican Presidential candidates to viewers across America.”

CNN/U.S. President Jon Klein noted that his network and YouTube has “created a one-of-a-kind format to enable American voters to pose their own questions directly to the Republican candidates themselves.

“We are grateful to the Republican Party of Florida and to Governor Crist for their partnership and for bringing the CNN-YouTube debate to this critical early primary state,” Klein said.

CNN and YouTube are conducting a similar presidential debate using YouTube’s video technology Monday night live from Charleston, South Carolina.

Filed under: CNN/You Tube Debate • Florida


J Mason   January 31st, 2008 6:28 pm ET

BILL CLINTONS NEW DEAL – Is this reasonable for Bill Clinton to deny this and then when pressed then change his story to agree?

What does Hillary Clinton think of this?

Deal stunned the mining industry
The monster deal stunned the mining industry, turning an unknown shell company into one of the world’s largest uranium producers in a transaction ultimately worth tens of millions of dollars to Mr. Giustra, analysts said.

Just months after the Kazakh pact was finalized, Mr. Clinton’s charitable foundation received its own windfall: a $31.3 million donation from Mr. Giustra that had remained a secret until he acknowledged it last month. The gift, combined with Mr. Giustra’s more recent and public pledge to give the William J. Clinton Foundation an additional $100 million, secured Mr. Giustra a place in Mr. Clinton’s inner circle, an exclusive club of wealthy entrepreneurs in which friendship with the former president has its privileges.

Peter W.   January 19th, 2008 3:00 pm ET

911 was an inside job. RESEARCH IT. Go to Infowars.com

Matt A.   January 19th, 2008 2:57 pm ET

Ron Pauls message shall not be silenced. Even if he loses the Repulican nomination the seed was planted and it will grow!

William Moore   January 15th, 2008 7:19 pm ET

I would like to hear the candidates responses to the idea of indexing minimum wage to congressional salaries....

Okey Jackson   January 13th, 2008 1:23 pm ET

Is it true that the reason for so much illegal immigration is that NAFTA subsidized corn (their main cash crop)from us is sold cheaper than what the local farmer there can grow it forcing them to come here to feed their family?

Maha, Sudi Arabia   December 10th, 2007 10:02 pm ET

please help ..show the world how much we suffer in Sudi Arabia from religous police.. please them they hurted me so bad ..I blieve in your breavness and ckorege, you say America is the home of breave can you do some thing for us.
this is not from our riligoun it's from the sick people how think that they are God. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJcEpcI2gPw

Adam Canada   November 29th, 2007 1:03 am ET

Why is CNN so biased about allowing post's for a certain Republican Candidate? RP

Adam S   November 28th, 2007 11:01 pm ET

As a Canadian, I can honestly say that this was the first actual debate I have ever watched. I have to admit that my main attraction was to see how CNN would conduct it’s broadcast, and if it would hold itself to the true consensus of YouTube community and it’s obvious favored political candidate (Ron Paul). Maybe I misunderstood the generalized idea of the whole concept, because Ron Paul was addressed possibly 4 times for the entire 2+ hours? I am left wondering what the association with YouTube and CNN is meant to represent?

Tim O'Flynn Tampa, Florida   November 26th, 2007 1:27 pm ET

Here is a debate question for the candidates:

To the voters a "yes" or "no" question is NOT a "gotcha" question. It is an attempt to get an honest straight forward response in the Harry Truman tradition. We don't mind an explanation from the candidate but we believe the first word out of a candidate's mouth in answer to a "yes" or "no" should be "yes" or "no". Will you as a candidate pledge to always answer yes or no to these type of questions?

NOTE: This question is the first test.

Jeff Ringwood NJ   November 25th, 2007 9:38 pm ET

Glenn Beck is a little boy acting like an adult.

Tricia, St. Petersburg, FL   November 17th, 2007 10:11 pm ET

Just say NO to Ron Paul people..http://tinyurl.com/352gm

Tony,Tampa Fl   October 29th, 2007 6:42 pm ET

RON PAUL WILL BLOW UP ST PETE THAT NIGHT!!

REMEMBER REMEMBER THE 5th OF NOVEMBER!
Everyone is donating $100.000 to Ron Paul 11/05

WE WILL SHOW YOU HOW POPULAR RON PAUL REALLY IS!!
TAMPA FOR RON PAUL!!!!

Steve Rock Hill, SC   July 30th, 2007 11:34 am ET

I believe that since American citizens ask more hardball questions than the mainstream media, this event will be canceled for some reason.

I notice no mention of Ron Paul.

Is it true Rudy won't be there due to a prior commitment? Unheard of. He is afraid of the American public. If elected he'll only hang out at military bases like Bush.

John, St Pete, FL   July 29th, 2007 4:35 pm ET

St Pete for Ron Paul

Lauren, Atlanta, GA   July 28th, 2007 5:32 pm ET

Why is CNN not mentioning anywhere that they've "postponed" this debate in order to appease Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani who are afraid of answering questions posed by average Americans?

Brandon, Wyandotte Michigan   July 28th, 2007 4:31 pm ET

I bet Rudy won't show up to the debate. He reminds me of Bush in that he only spits out brainless one liners and really doesn't know anything about the issues.

...and since this is moderated by CNN, I won't even bother saying how much I love Ron Paul.

Douglas H. Indinapolis, Indiana   July 26th, 2007 9:02 pm ET

I sure hope CNN does not try to rig the debates by limiting candidates ability to address questions. Each should have equal time.

Jeff, Rochester, NY   July 24th, 2007 10:50 pm ET

CNN pumps McCain as he's as close to a Dem as the Republicans have and they know he can't beat Hillary. So glad that our politicians will be subject to the questions of the empty-headed, video game players of the country who put videos on You Tube. CNN buying You Tube is another attempt at getting the youth vote out for the Dems, as MTV couldn't get it done in '04.

Sister Toldjah » In case you didn’t watch the CNN/You Tube Democrat debate tonight …   July 23rd, 2007 10:30 pm ET

[...] Looks like a pretty neat format, from what I've seen in clips of it. Republicans will be doing a debate like this on September 17th in St. Petersburg, Florida. [...]

David, Orlando FL   July 22nd, 2007 9:18 am ET

I call on all my fellow Floridians to rise up and help Ron Paul win in Florida.

Anonymous   July 21st, 2007 2:34 pm ET

Will Mark Foley be there?

Clearwater Ron Paul 2008 Meetup   July 21st, 2007 4:35 am ET

The media owners just keep trying to push their dead in the water candidate, John McCain, and the more they do, the more ridiculous they look. The Ron Paul Revolution will be in attendance enmasse.

Clearwater Ron Paul Meetup

http://myspace.com/clearwaterronpaulmeetup

B.ProsserME   July 20th, 2007 7:22 pm ET

Hope Republicans wear their hazardous materials gear. Democrats have become down right poisonous.

Glenn,B'ham,Al   July 20th, 2007 4:29 pm ET

Good! Maybe some of the questions will actually be to the point & require a answer!

Jeff Spangler, Arlington, VA   July 20th, 2007 4:26 pm ET

"The numbers are against us." No, Mitch, _you_ are against yourselves in the minds of the American electorate.

bret, atl, ga   July 20th, 2007 4:14 pm ET

Prepare to be "spammed" by the Ron Paul Revolution, Florida.

Why does CNN continue to plug John McCain? he's not going anywhere, period. Amnesty killed his chances, he's done, it's just a matter of time. Stop wasting space on the poor guy.

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