Google, YouTube Plan Presidential Forum

By Mike Sachoff - Tue, 04/29/2008 - 2:54pm.

To be held in New Orleans

Google and YouTube have announced plans to hold a presidential forum in New Orleans in September.

In the announcement the two companies said, "The forum will be a live televised discussion about the issues critical to America's future, and using YouTube's video platform and Google's technologies, you'll be able to engage in the discussion in important ways."

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and the New Orleans Consortium will host the forum. The forum will be held on September 18, 2008 at the Morial Convention Center.

"New Orleans is rebuilding and we are excited about the future. We're ready to welcome the candidates to our city to discuss that future," Nagin said on YouTube in a video to announce the debate. "The Internet is allowing that discussion to take place in ways that are more democratic and empowering than ever before."

Invitations have been offered to Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, along with Republican John McCain. So far none of the candidates have committed to the forum.