John McCain and Barack Obama on ESPN’s Monday Night Football

By April MacIntyre Oct 31, 2008, 20:37 GMT

John McCain and Barack Obama will appear on ESPN’s Monday Night Football. EPA/STEVE POPE

John McCain and Barack Obama will appear on ESPN’s Monday Night Football.
 
On the eve of the presidential election, ESPN’s Monday Night Football game November 3 will originate from the nation’s capital when the Pittsburgh Steelers meet the Washington Redskins. 

Before the polls open the next day, ESPN’s audience will hear from the candidates when Chris Berman interviews both major party presidential nominees, Republican Senator John McCain and Democratic Senator Barack Obama, during halftime of the MNF game.
 
The candidates have agreed to participate one-on-one, pending last-minute schedule changes, via satellite with Berman from the ESPN studios in Bristol, Conn.  The conversations will be taped earlier in the day and will air at approximately 10:15 p.m. ET. 

The Steelers-Redskins game will kickoff at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN HD with the Spanish-language telecast on ESPN Deportes.
 
“We worked with our partners at the NFL to schedule a Monday Night Football game in Washington on this special night, and this presents a unique opportunity for John McCain and Barack Obama to reflect upon the last few months and address a large primetime audience on the final day of the campaigns,” said Norby Williamson, ESPN executive vice president, production.
 
ESPN’s Monday Night Football is the most-watched series in cable television history.