Nine Ohio NBC-affiliated television stations -- including WTOV9 -- are joining forces to broadcast a live 60-minute debate between Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown and Republican State Treasurer Josh Mandel.

The debate will take place Thursday, Oct. 25, in Cincinnati and will be broadcast live on all Ohio NBC affiliates at 7 p.m.

Brown and Mandel are running for the United States Senate seat currently held by Brown.

"WTOV9 is committed to providing important programs that address critical community issues and educating Ohio voters about important statewide political contests like this Senate race," said Tim McCoy, vice president and general manager of WTOV9.

NBC White House Correspondent Chuck Todd will moderate the debate with a panel of broadcast journalists from across the state. The panel of journalists includes anchor/political reporter Colleen Marshall from WCMH in Columbus, anchor Sheree Paolello from WLWT in Cincinnati, and political reporter Tom Beres from WKYC in Cleveland.

The debate is a continuation of the commitment NBC and the affiliate stations have shown to political coverage. The consortium produced a statewide debate on Ohio's Issue 2 in October 2011.

AARP joins the consortium of stations as the exclusive underwriting sponsor for the debate.

"AARP Ohio is pleased to underwrite the broadcast of this debate so Ohioans can learn where candidates stand on the issues most important to them," says Jane Taylor, state director for AARP Ohio. "AARP is proud of our 26-year history of providing unbiased information so voters can choose candidates that best fit their values. AARP is a nonpartisan organization. We provide voters' guides and sponsor debates and forums in support of an informed electorate."

In addition to WTOV9, the other presenting NBC affiliates are: WLWT/Cincinnati; WKYC/Cleveland; WCMH/Columbus; WDTN/Dayton; WLIO/Lima, WNWO/Toledo; WFMJ/Youngstown; and WHIZ /Zanesville.

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