NBC News and Facebook are working on the finishing touches for Sunday’s New Hampshire Republican primary debate that the two partners hope will change how voters and politicians interact in the future.
Being held in Concord, the debate happens less than 48 hours before Granite State voters head to the polls.
The event will play on both NBC and MSNBC, and also will be streamed online at Facebook.com. There, users will be able to submit questions directly to the candidates as well as interact with each other during the debate.
“In this campaign cycle the rules have changed and while it’s said all politics are local, today it may be more likely to say all politics are social,” NBC’s Meet the Press moderator David Gregory said in an introduction. “Woters like you are having your voice heard like never before.” Along with the introduction video, people were able to begin submitting questions on the same page.
Facebook users have participated in live streaming events before, such as town halls held by President Barack Obama.
And these kind of interactive events are going to continue to be the trend, especially as so many Americans are connected. Each and every election cycle candidates expand the way they get their message out has changed, but never like this.
“By allowing people to connect in an authentic and meaningful way with presidential candidates, we hope more voters than ever will get involved with issues that matter most to them,” wrote Elliot Schrage, Facebook’s VP of Global Communications, Marketing and Public Policy.
“Let the fighting begin,” wrote Facebook user Jeff Johnson on the debate page. “they will all claim to be the best..i say let their voting record prove it!”
The debate, live from New Hampshire, airs at 9 a.m. Eastern Time on Sunday.
