November 18th, 2011

CNN Hosts GOP Debate on National Security from Washington, DC

CNN lead political anchor Wolf Blitzer will moderate a Republican presidential debate on Tuesday, Nov. 22 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. (ET) live from the historic DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. The debate, in partnership with The Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), will focus on three of the most critical issues candidates will encounter during the Republican presidential nomination: national security, foreign policy and the economy.

In addition to Blitzer, Foreign policy experts from AEI and The Heritage Foundation will pose questions to the candidates. The following eight presidential contenders will participate in the debate: Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, businessman Herman Cain, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum.

Live coverage from DAR Constitution Hall will begin the day before the debate, on Monday, Nov. 21, and continue through the post-debate programming on the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 22 to include anchors Wolf Blitzer, John King and Erin Burnett. CNN political analysts and contributors Paul Begala, Gloria Borger, Donna Brazile, David Frum, David Gergen, Ari Fleischer, and Dana Loesch will participate in coverage from the nation’s capital.

CNN en Español’s Washington, D.C. anchor Juan Carlos López will host live analysis on that network before the debate starting at 7:45 p.m. (ET). At 8 p.m., CNN en Español will take the debate live with simultaneous interpretation followed by more analysis with CNN en Español’s team of political contributors. The debate will also be carried live on CNN International.

CNN.com:

Online, users can visit CNN’s Election Center and CNNPolitics.com for all things political before, during and after the debate. On debate night, CNNPolitics.com will live stream the event. CNN will solicit questions and comments submitted in real-time from CNN.com, the CNN Politics fan page on Facebook and by using the #CNNDebate hashtag on Twitter. The Political Ticker will live-blog the debate and incorporate live comments generated from social networks directly on the Ticker.

CNNPolitics.com will also showcase commentary and analysis from CNN’s political contributors, and feature a post-debate camera live from the Spin Room. CNN iReport, the network’s global participatory news community, will be asking for submissions of reactions to the debate, some of which will be shown across CNN.com and broadcast on CNN.

PROGRAMMING:

The following programs will originate live from DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C.:

All times Eastern

Monday, November 21

4 p.m. – 6 p.m.                       The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer

6 p.m. – 7 p.m.                       John King, USA

Tuesday, November 22

4 p.m. – 6 p.m.                       The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer

6 p.m. – 7 p.m.                       John King, USA

7 p.m. – 8 p.m.                       Erin Burnett OutFront

8 p.m. – 10 p.m.                     CNN NATIONAL SECURITY DEBATE

10 p.m. – 11 p.m.                   Anderson Cooper 360° (guest anchored by John King)

11 p.m. – 1 a.m.                     CNN NATIONAL SECURITY DEBATE (replay)

CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is the most trusted source for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; CNN Digital Network, the No. 1 network of news Web sites in the United States; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively syndicated news service; and strategic international partnerships within both television and the digital media.

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CONTACT:

Edie Emery                            Washington                                          202.898.7657                                  edie.emery@cnn.com

Megan Grant                         Washington                                          202.515.2920                               megan.grant@cnn.com