Marines in Afghanistan watch presidential debate

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Marines watch the U.S. presidential debate live early Thursday morning at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, as former Massachusetts Gov. W. Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama tackle political issues.

Marines watch the U.S. presidential debate live early Thursday morning at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. (Collin Kelly)

COMBAT OUTPOST PAYNE, Afghanistan — Once again, I’m checking in here from the House of Payne. Get it? Good.

To get to this outpost from Camp Leatherneck, photographer Colin Kelly and I rose before dawn this morning to hop an MV-22 Osprey. It meant we were awake as President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. W. Mitt Romney squared off in a presidential debate back in the U.S.

Helmand province is 8 1/2 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, creating issues whenever there are live events that many Americans watch, whether it’s a sporting event or something involving national politics.

Fox News’ coverage of the debate was carried on Armed Forces Network, which broadcasts a variety of programming from U.S. networks. A handful of Marines and I sat down in the helicopter terminal at Camp Bastion, the aviation base abutting Leatherneck, to watch.

The Marines watched quietly — much like both candidates were almost entirely quiet about the future of the U.S. military. Here’s hoping they get around to discussing it at some point, eh?

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I'm a senior writer with Marine Corps Times, covering ground warfare, manpower, weapons acquisition and other beats. I embedded in Afghanistan in spring 2010, and plan to return at least once in 2011.

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