The first presidential debate: A viewer's guide

Wednesday night's showdown between President Obama and Mitt Romney may be the biggest night of the campaign. A rundown of what you need to know

University of Denver student Sam Garry sits at the moderator's desk before a presidential debate dress rehearsal on Oct. 2: The debate will air tonight on all the major networks, and is avail
(Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

In the political world, Wednesday night's first-ever debate between President Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney is this year's Main Event. With the presidential race currently leaning in Obama's direction, this face-off is seen as the best chance for Romney to shake up his campaign, with the election only five weeks away and voters already starting to cast their ballots. Most of the expected tens of millions of viewers, though, are probably just looking for good TV, interesting politicking, and a healthy dash of policy thrown in. Here, a guide to watching the debate:

When is the debate, and how can I watch it?

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