Google and Fox to team up for Republican debate

Internet search-giant Google is teaming up with US broadcaster Fox News to host a debate among the Republican presidential candidates.

The debate will be simultaneously broadcast on live on Fox News and Google owned YouTube.

The two companies are also coming together to assist the public in asking the two candidates questions. Questions for the Republicans vying for the party’s 2012 presidential nomination can be submitted by video or text at youtube.com/foxnewsYouTube.

Users can vote on the submitted questions and those receiving the most votes will be asked at the debate.

“The Fox News/Google Debate will combine the questions you submit on YouTube with maps, facts and information to enrich and guide the discussion,” YouTube’s head of news and politics Steve Grove said in a blog post.

“Throughout the evening, we’ll use Google’s public data and search trends on air to give greater context to the questions, and help you make a more informed decision at the polls come November 2012,” Grove added.

The Fox/YouTube partnership is the latest foray into social media for the Republican presidential process.

In July, the debates hit the twittersphere. Users were able to follow the points made by the candidates, moderators and members of the public on separate streams. Web users could also view the entire debate on a separate website.

The ancillary site also featured real-time stats, including how many followers, mentions and retweets each candidate was receiving. –AFP with additional reporting by Staff Reporter.