CBS NEWS ANNOUNCES CANDIDATES, FORMAT AND PODIUM ORDER FOR TONIGHT’S DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY DEBATE

CBS NEWS ANNOUNCES CANDIDATES, FORMAT AND PODIUM ORDER FOR TONIGHT’S DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY DEBATE

THE PRIMETIME DEBATE AIRS FROM 8:00-10:15 PM, ET, ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK AND BET;

DEBATE ALSO STREAMS LIVE ON CBSN AND TWITTER

CBS News released the first look of the debate stage for tonight’s Democratic presidential primary debate in Charleston, S.C., and also announced the candidates, format and podium order. The CBS News primetime debate airs tonight, Feb. 25 (8:00-10:15 PM, ET) on the CBS Television Network and BET. The debate will also be streamed live on CBSN, CBS News’ free 24/7 streaming news service, and on Twitter via @CBSNews.

Candidates and Podium Order

The candidates will appear on the stage in the order listed below, from left to right, as viewed by the audience. Podium order was determined using a combination of polling averages and the current delegate count.

• Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg
• Former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg
• Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren
• Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders
• Former Vice President Joe Biden
• Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar
• Businessman Tom Steyer

Format

The format of the debate will allow candidates to answer direct questions for one minute and 15 seconds, with 45 seconds for rebuttals, at the discretion of the moderators. There will be no opening or closing statements, though all candidates will get a closing question.

About Tonight’s Debate

CBS News will co-host the debate with the Congressional Black Caucus Institute. Twitter is a debate partner. The debate, sanctioned by the DNC and held in coordination with the South Carolina Democratic Party, will take place at the Charleston Gaillard Center. CBS EVENING NEWS anchor and managing editor Norah O’Donnell and CBS THIS MORNING co-host Gayle King are the moderators. Joining O’Donnell and King in the questioning will be FACE THE NATION moderator and CBS News senior foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Brennan, chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett and 60 MINUTES correspondent Bill Whitaker. Click here to read more about CBS News’ coverage plans.

How to Watch

• Watch on TV: The debate will air on CBS stations.

• Live stream: Stream the debate on CBSN, CBS News’ free 24/7 news streaming service available on cbsnews.com and the CBS News app for mobile and connected TV devices, and via the CBS All Access subscription service. CBSN’s coverage will also be streamed on Twitter via @CBSNews.

• Analysis and spin room: Post-debate coverage from the spin room will begin at 10:15 PM, ET, on CBS stations and CBSN across all platforms.

• Live updates: Follow along on CBSNews.com.