Heritage’s Debate on National Security and Foreign Policy
Republican presidential candidates at the debate. Left to right: former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Herman Cain, former Speaker Newt Gingrich, Minnesota Rep. Michelle Bachmann and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman. Photo: CNN.
On Nov. 22, The Heritage Foundation and AEI teamed up with CNN to host a debate on national security and foreign policy issues with eight Republican presidential candidates.
This innovative debate–the first ever hosted by a think tank and the first hosted in the nation’s capital in 50 years–helped Heritage’s conservative policy message reach tens of millions of concerned Americans at a critical juncture.
Key Numbers
- At least 15 million Americans watched some part of the debate either live or in replays in the days that followed, according to CNN numbers.
- Moreover, 42 million people were exposed to Heritage’s involvement in the debate in the two weeks around the debate thanks to extensive news coverage.
‘The Most Substantive and Serious Presidential Debate’
The media had glowing reviews of the debate:
“…probably the most substantive and serious presidential debate of this election cycle.”
- Michael Barone, The Washington Examiner
“… a substantive debate that brought to the fore differences among candidates on a variety of foreign policy issues …”
- Jim Rutenberg and Jeff Zeleny, The New York Times
Watch Video of the Debate
Behind-the-Scenes Video
Heritage’s Brandon Stewart and Rob Bluey had the opportunity to visit DAR Constitution Hall in Washington before the debate to film this exclusive behind-the-scenes video of the preparations.
Listen to Heritage’s Pre-Debate Conference Call
Before the debate, Heritage Foundation president Ed Feulner and national security expert James Carafano spoke with several thousand Heritage members in a teleconference to preview the issues to be discussed.
They discussed critical foreign policy and national security issues and answered questions from members.
Listen to audio of the teleconference or download it in MP3 format.