PRESS RELEASE:

KUED continues its nationally-recognized election programming, Vote Utah 2010, begining this month with candidate election debates, a Vote Utah web and resource site, candidate free speech spots and a new partnership with Comcast. This September KUED will air two debates.

• The Debate for U.S. Senate, between senators Mike Lee (R) and Sam Granato (D), airs on Monday, September 20 at 8:00 p.m. and on KUED-World 7-2, Thursday, September 23 at 7:00 p.m.
• Debate for Utah Governor, between gubernatorial candidates Gary Herbert (R) and Peter Corroon (D) airs Monday, September 27 at 8:00 p.m. and repeats on KUED-World, 7-2 on Thursday, September 30 at 7:00 p.m.

The debates, with a live studio audience, will be moderated by KUED's Ken Verdoia and are co-hosted by the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah. Candidate Free Speech spots produced by KUED give all ballot-qualified candidates running for statewide office an opportunity to directly address voters. Pre-empting KUED's Contact, the two-and-a-half-minute spots air weeknights at 9:55 p.m. beginning September 28 through the general election.

In addition to the spots, candidate introduction videos presented by Comcast will be available for viewing on Comcast Channel 888, Utah on Demand. The two-and-half-minute spots give a brief background and political stance of each candidate running for Utah state office.

"Now, Comcast viewers can get to know their local candidates at any time with a click of the remote," says Steve Proper, Comcast Director of Government Affairs. "Our goal with KUED is to give voters a better idea of who they're voting for and to encourage them to get out and vote."

The KUED debates and candidate free speech spots will also be available to watch at kued.org/voteutah and on Comcast 888, Utah on Demand.

"We see this partnership as a public service to help voters understand the candidates and their positions," says Erik Nielsen, KUED producer of Vote Utah 2010.

To watch the candidate debates, free speech spots and for more information, links and web resources, visit kued.org/voteutah.

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