The  national conventions for both the Democrats and the Republicans are now  becoming fleeting memories and settling into the dust bin of history  books. The candidates have spread out across 8 battleground states to  make their case of why their ticket should be the won winning the White  House on November 6.

There  are several parties competing besides the 2 major parties, but have  little to no chance of winning a single state, let alone the keys to  1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Unless  you are in one of the 8 battleground states you can sigh and relax a  bit until October. For those in Ohio, Virginia, Michigan, Florida, North  Carolina, Colorado, Nevada and Wisconsin, you will have to grin, grit,  bite down hard and hang on hoping the nightmare will soon be over. The  rest of the country may feel your pain, but they sure won't trade places  with you.

To  get prepared and pen in time to either glue to the television or make  sure you are out of touch and out of mind, here is what may be the  determining events to sway the undecided voters and seal the election. I  present you with the Presidential and Vice Presidential Debate Schedule  (all debates will also be streamed online live):

Presidential Debate October 3
Barack Obama (incumbent) v. Mitt Romney (challenger)
Topic: Domestic policy
Air Time: 9:00-10:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Location: University of Denver in Denver, Colorado
Sponsor: Commission on Presidential Debates
Moderator: Jim Lehrer (Host of NewsHour on PBS)

The debate will focus on domestic policy and be divided into six time  segments of approximately 15 minutes each on topics to be selected by  the moderator and announced several weeks before the debate.

The moderator will open each segment with a question, after which each  candidate will have two minutes to respond. The moderator will use the  balance of the time in the segment for a discussion of the topic.

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Vice Presidential Debate October 11
Joe Biden (incumbent) v. Paul Ryan (challenger)
Topic: Foreign and domestic policy
Air Time: 9:00-10:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Location: Centre College in Danville, Kentucky
Sponsor: Commission on Presidential Debates
Moderator: Martha Raddatz (ABC News Chief Foreign Correspondent)

The  debate will cover both foreign and domestic topics and be divided into  nine time segments of approximately 10 minutes each. The moderator will  ask an opening question, after which each candidate will have two  minutes to respond. The moderator will use the balance of the time in  the segment for a discussion of the question.

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Presidential Debate October 16
Barack Obama (incumbent) v. Mitt Romney (challenger)
Topic: Town meeting format including foreign and domestic policy
Air Time: 9:00-10:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Location: Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York
Sponsor: Commission on Presidential Debates
Moderator: Candy Crowley (CNN Chief Political Correspondent)

The  second presidential debate will take the form of a town meeting, in  which citizens will ask questions of the candidates on foreign and  domestic issues. Candidates each will have two minutes to respond, and  an additional minute for the moderator to facilitate a discussion. The  town meeting participants will be undecided voters selected by the  Gallup Organization.

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Presidential Debate October 22
Barack Obama (incumbent) v. Mitt Romney (challenger)
Topic: Foreign policy
Air Time: 9:00-10:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Location: Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida
Sponsor: Commission on Presidential Debates
Moderator: Bob Schieffer (Host of Face the Nation on CBS)

The format for the debate will be identical to the first presidential debate and will focus on foreign policy.

From the Cornfield, there you have it - The 2012 Debate Schedule.

Now  study up, listen to the stump speeches, read the candidates' web site  policy postings and be prepared to see how the candidates do.

Or...you can make sure you are tuned into your favorite sports team or out on the town, escaping the politics for the night.

Personally,  I believe it is in the nation's interest that every voter pay attention  to each of the debates. These events may be the best opportunity to  learn what we need to know about each candidate in order to make an  informed decision when we walk into the voting booth.

http://2012presidentialelectionnews.com/2012-debate-schedule/2012-presidential-debate-schedule