JIMLEHRER:GoodeveningfromtheMagnessArenaattheUniversityofDenverinDenver,Colorado
I'mJimLehrerofthePBSNewsHour,andIwelcomeyoutothefirstofthe2012presidentialdebatesbetweenPresidentBarackObama,theDemocraticnominee,andformerMassachusettsGovernorMittRomney,theRepublicannominee
Thisdebateandthenextthree—twopresidential,onevice-presidential—aresponsoredbytheCommissiononPresidentialDebates
Tonight's90minuteswillbeaboutdomesticissues,andwillfollowaformatdesignedbythecommission
Therewillbesixroughly15-minutesegments,withtwo-minuteanswersforthefirstquestion,thenopendiscussionfortheremainderofeachsegment
ThousandsofpeopleofferedsuggestionsonsegmentsubjectsofquestionsviatheInternetandothermeans,butImadethefinalselections,andfortherecord,theywerenotsubmittedforapprovaltothecommissionorthecandi