If John McCain and Barack Obama do square off as scheduled in the first of three presidential debates tonight, what can we expect from the candidates? Read Richard Lee's Guide to the Presidential Debate to learn what strategies the two campaigns are likely to employ during the 90-minute exchange at the University of Mississippi.

Debate Impact— Moving forward, what will tonight's debate mean for the remainder of the campaign? In Debate One, presidential scholar Michael Riccards discusses the campaign to date and looks ahead to how tonight's debate will impact the remainder of the race.

NJ2008 — Now that the long campaign is entering its final stages, you can learn where the candidates stand on the issues of most importance to New Jerseyans by visiting the Hall Institute’s NJ2008 section.

Senate 2008 — Here in the New Jersey, citizens also will vote to select a U.S. Senator. Since July, the candidates have been exchanging statements online in our virtual debate. This week Frank Lautenberg and Dick Zimmer responded to a question on free trade policies.

• Riccards on New Jersey 2008 — A blog on our state's expanded role in the 2008 presidential race.
• Rich Lee on Media — Musings on those who make the news and those who report it.
• White Papers
• Research Essays
• Op-Ed Articles
• Press Releases

The Hall Institute is a non-partisan, not-for-profit foundation established to explore social, economic, educational and cultural issues. Our weekly email newsletter is sent to organizations and individuals with an interest in the material posted on our website at www.hallnj.org.

Since its inception three years ago, the institute has emerged as a leading voice for public policy in New Jersey. More than 200 papers, on topics ranging from health care to education to property taxes, have been posted on our website.

In 2006, the institute presented an online Virtual Debate among the candidates in New Jersey's U.S. Senate race. At present, we are sponsoring NJ2008, a special section on New Jersey's role in the 2008 presidential campaign.

In addition to our other activities, the institute also has published two books -- The State of the Garden State and Reaction and Reform in New Jersey. Both are compilations of the major papers posted on its website.

Located in Trenton directly across from the New Jersey Statehouse, the institute was established by George E. Hall, a successful business executive and a leading philanthropist who lives in Middletown, N.J.