When large crowds form around television sets in the streets of Egypt’s
capital, it almost always means a major soccer match is being broadcast.
But last week, the airing of the first presidential debate in the nation’s
history packed the coffee shops of downtown Cairo as Egyptians
gathered to watch the two frontrunners trade barbs. The first round of
presidential elections are scheduled for May 23 and May 24, with a
second round scheduled for June 16 and June 17.