What's the Rush?

Debates between the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates have always been held during the fall campaign, which is traditionally considered to begin on Labor Day.

This year, the campaigns of Sens. Obama and McCain have been negotiating over plans for debates that would begin well in advance of Labor Day. The talks have reached an impasse, so it may not happen, but the fact that the idea would at least be seriously considered is another indication of how things are speeded up in this election cycle.

Two states have had their convention representation halved, because they held their primaries earlier than the parties wanted them to. And now, the general election debates, which have been held in the fall since the first ones, during the 1960 Kennedy-Nixon race, might be moved up as well.

After a bit of a break, the debates became a permanent institution in 1976. Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon had declined to participate in them, during the 1964, 1968 and 1972 campaigns, calculating that they had nothing to gain from them. By now, it would be difficult, if not impossible, for any candidate to avoid debating. The Obama and McCain campaigns will probably reach agreement sooner or later on debates for this election, but it remains to be seen how far they will break with tradition.

One part of the process will be later than usual, though. The Republican National Convention will be held during the first week of September, which is unusually late. That party will not officially have a nominee yet on Labor Day, so the fall campaign cannot formally begin then, although, in fact, it already has begun.