Mississippi Gubernatorial Race

Republican Primary Debate 2011

Sponsors: 16 WAPT News, Central Mississippi Tea Party
Saturday, June 25, 2011 * 3:00 pm-5:00 pm Northwest Rankin H.S. / 5805 Lakeland Drive / Performing Arts Bldg. DEBATE WILL BEGIN AT 3:30 P.M. CANDIDATES MAY ARRIVE AS EARLY AS 2:30 P.M. (Holding rooms will be provided)
Central MS Tea Party Contacts Tricia Raymond Chairwoman triciavraymond@msn.com; 601.209.5344 Paul Buisson Vice Chairman paul.buisson@att.net; 601.454.9164 Janis Lane President, CMTP janisdlane@gmail.com; 770.367.7888 WAPT Contacts Bruce Barkley, News Director bbarkely@hearst.com; 601.922.1607 Ben Hart, Asst. News Director bhart@hearst.com; 601.922.1607

FORMAT According to blind draws: STAGE POSITION: Dave Dennis Closest to audience Hudson Holliday Middle Phil Bryant Closest to stage OPENING STATEMENTS: 1st opening: Phil Bryant 2nd opening: Hudson Holliday 3rd opening: Dave Dennis CLOSING STATEMENTS: 1st closing: Hudson Holliday 2nd closing: Dave Dennis 3rd closing: Phil Bryant

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Candidate Table Moderator Table

Stage Front

Candidates will be given 60 seconds for an opening statement Candidates will be given 60 seconds for a closing statement Questions will be gathered from the audience, co-sponsors, and viewers. The moderators will use their discretion to ask their own questions and to ask follow-up questions. The candidate delivering the first opening statement will receive the first question. Questions will rotate through the candidates. Candidates will have 90 seconds to answer questions. The other candidates may be given a 30 second rebuttal at the moderators discretion.

On two occasions during the debate prompted by the moderators a candidate will have the chance to ask each opposing candidate a question. The candidate asking the question will have 30 seconds The opposing candidate will have one minute to answer There may be a 30 second rebuttal upon discretion of moderator

RULES The audience will be asked to refrain from applause or cheering until after the debate is over. Each campaign will notify 16 WAPT and CMTP about a point person from their campaign. A designated timer seated in the front row will hold up a yellow sign with a 30 on it to alert the candidate of 30 seconds remaining. The timer will then hold up a red sign with TIME OVER on it to alert the candidate that his time is up.

MODERATORS There will be two moderators: Stephanie Maxwell from 16 WAPT News and Forest Thigpen from Mississippi Public Policy Institute. TELEVISION AND RADIO The debate will air live streaming on wapt.com. A live stream will also be provided to the following cable channels throughout the state via StogTV: Jackson ch 98; Gulfport ch 95; Biloxi 19; Southaven/Memphis ch 31; Tupelo ch 199; Meridian ch 95; Hattiesburg/Laurel ch 98. All media outlets statewide will be sent a Press Release. STAGE SET UP / FACILITY LOGISTICS There is a black curtain on the stage that will be closed. The tables will be set up in front of the curtain. The candidates will be seated at a table. Each candidate will be miked. Each candidate may utilize a holding room that will be set aside for the purpose of waiting before the debate begins. (These are actually band rooms) The A/C will be set on 65; colder in holding rooms. Bottled water will be provided. Each candidate will have a tent card with their name. Northwest Rankin contact: Lisa Armstrong lisa.armstrong@rcsd.com SEATING Candidates staff is requested to allow the general public to be seated first. Spouses will have a reserved seat in the front row. SIGNS Space will be provided for table literature only in the foyer of the Performance Arts Bldg. Signs will not be allowed inside the Performance Arts Bldg. Signs can be placed outside but it is your responsibility to remove your signs.