A week from tonight, CNBC's Maria Bartiromo and MSNBC's Chris Matthews will moderate the first Republican Presidential debate of the 2008 campaign that focuses on economic issues.

The two-hour debate is being held in the heart of the struggling U.S. auto industry, Dearborn, Michigan. The debate will begin right after the closing bell on Wall Street, at 4pmET on CNBC. It will be re-broadcast at 9pmET on MSNBC.

"The objective of the debate is to draw out the important differences on the candidates' positions on topics like taxes, trade, inequality and social security," said Bartiromo in a press release. "I am proud to be partnering with Chris, truly an insider in Washington."

Said Matthews, "Economic issues are always top priority for voters, and this debate will help clarify where these candidates stand. I'm thrilled to be joined by one of the top business reporters in the country, Maria."

Click continued to read the press release...

CNBC’S MARIA BARTIROMO AND MSNBC’S CHRIS MATTHEWS TO MODERATE THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE OCT. 9TH FOCUSING ON ECONOMIC ISSUES

Jointly Sponsored by CNBC/MSNBC/The Wall Street Journal

Debate To Be Held In Heart of America's Auto Industry, Dearborn, Mich.

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., Oct. 2, 2007---CNBC/MSNBC/The Wall Street Journal announced today that CNBC's Maria Bartiromo and MSNBC's Chris Matthews will moderate the first Republican Presidential debate of the 2008 campaign focusing on economic issues. The two-hour debate is scheduled to be held on October 9 in Dearborn, Mich. and will be broadcast live on CNBC, First in Business Worldwide, at 4 PM ET and re-broadcast later that evening on MSNBC at 9 PM ET.

Maria Bartiromo anchors CNBC's "Closing Bell with Maria Bartiromo" (3PM-5PM ET), and is also the host and managing editor of the nationally syndicated "Wall Street Journal Report with Maria Bartiromo." In 1995, Bartiromo was the first journalist to report live from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on a daily basis where she covered breaking news for the network's fast-paced morning program, "Squawk Box." The award-winning journalist continues to distinguish herself securing exclusive interviews with newsmakers including President Bush, Former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan, Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson and Chief Executive Officer of Countrywide Financial Angelo Mozilo, among others.

Chris Matthews hosts MSNBC's "Hardball with Chris Matthews," (5PM and 7 PM ET). Matthews is also the host of "The Chris Matthews Show," a syndicated weekly news program produced by NBC News and distributed by NBC Universal Television Distribution. A television news anchor with remarkable depth of experience, Matthews has distinguished himself as a broadcast journalist, newspaper bureau chief, Presidential speechwriter, and best-selling author. Matthews covered the fall of the Berlin Wall, the first all-races election in South Africa and the Good Friday Peace Talks in Northern Ireland. In 1997 and 1998, his digging in the National Archives produced a series of San Francisco Examiner scoops on the Nixon presidential tapes. Matthews has covered American presidential election campaigns since 1988, including the five-week recount of 2000. He is the author of five best-selling books, including his most recent, "Life's a Campaign."

"The 2008 presidential election and the economy are prevalent topics not just in the news, but also on the minds of every American and we are excited to be at the pulse of it," said Mark Hoffman, CNBC President. "Maria is a natural choice to be a moderator for this critical Republication presidential debate. With her years of experience and journalistic excellence, Maria has distinguished herself as a quintessential figure in business news."

"The economy and business issues have never been more pressing to the American people than they are today," said Bartiromo. "The objective of the debate is to draw out the important differences on the candidates' positions on topics like taxes, trade, inequality and social security-all issues that hit home for the American voter. I am proud to be partnering with Chris, truly an insider in Washington."

"Economic issues are always top priority for voters, and this debate will help clarify where these candidates stand on concerns that affect all Americans," said Matthews. "This is an important debate, and I'm thrilled to be joined by one of the top business reporters in the country, Maria."

The debate will be held at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn, Mich., a suburb of Detroit. The debate format will be determined after further discussions with representatives from the respective campaigns.