The topic has changed for the first 2008 presidential debate at the University of Mississippi Sept. 26.

The McCain and Obama campaigns have agreed to change from the original focus on domestic issues to national security and foreign policy instead.

The Republican and Democrat nominees will discuss domestic issues Oct. 15 at a debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y.

Officials said the change was requested by both of the campaigns. Events planned on campus to supplement the debate will not change.

PBS news anchor Jim Lehrer will moderate the Sept. 26 debate, which is set for 8 p.m. at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts. A joint statement from the campaigns said the debate at UM will be broken into nine, nine-minute segments.

The moderator will introduce a topic and allow each candidate two minutes to comment. After the initial answers, another five minutes will be allotted for an open discussion.