October 1, 2004.
As the American General Election season approaches and planning for Saudi Arabia's municipal elections begins in earnest, interest in and discussion about elections and election politics is running high through both American and Saudi communities of Jeddah. Seizing on this interest, the Consulate organized an evening viewing of the debate on the evening of October 1 for members of the local community. Guests in attendance included members of the American Businessmen of Jeddah as well as faculty and students from Dar al-Hekma College and King Abdulaziz University. The audience participated in an ad hoc group discussion at the conclusion of the program. While the crowd was split on the outcome of the debate, the post-debate discussion elucidated several key differences between how Saudis and Americans perceived the candidates' messages in the debate. This was the first in a series of events centered around the 2004 Presidential Debates sponsored by the Public Diplomacy Section at the American Consulate General in Jeddah.
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