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By SCOTT LEITH
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

CNN plans to stage a new sort of presidential debate, featuring questions submitted via Web powerhouse YouTube.

The companies announced Thursday that they will collaborate on two debates — on July 23 for Democrats and Sept. 17 for Republicans. People can submit video questions now through YouTube, which is promoting the feature on its home page. CNN will sift through submissions and choose which to use.

Here's what remains unknown: Will this amount to a mere gimmick? Or will YouTube breathe fresh life into the staid world of televised debates?

CNN certainly thinks it's a good idea. "These debates represent a giant leap forward," Jon Klein, president of CNN/U.S., said in a conference call. "No debate has ever had the potential of being more inclusive."

While YouTube remains best known for goofy videos of people doing rather stupid things, the site also is a growing player in the political process. Last year, former U.S. Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) couldn't overcome a video of him using an unusual racial slur that showed up on YouTube. The New York Times, noting the Allen brouhaha, dubbed 2006 the "YouTube Election."

Since then, YouTube has cultivated an environment that serves political junkies and candidates. A sub-area, called YouChoose, is a repository for presidential candidate videos. Chad Hurley, CEO and co-founder of YouTube, said 17 candidates are on YouChoose.

YouTube also has a section called CitizenTube for videos from average folks.

David Bohrman, senior vice president and Washington bureau chief for CNN, said the notion of using YouTube sprang from a desire to reach more people. The plan needed many sign-offs, starting with top CNN insiders.

"We took the crazy idea internally, then to YouTube," Bohrman said.

Of course, CNN could have used its own Web site to lure people to submit questions. But the choice of YouTube is a reminder of just how much the Google-owned Web site has secured a place in modern Internet culture.

"This just helps to amplify the amount of attention and traffic," Klein said. "CNN understands where people are going these days."

Financial terms weren't disclosed.

Bohrman said questions for the debates should be kept to 30 seconds or less. "We'll narrow down what I hope are thousands," he said.

Perhaps 20 or 30 questions are likely to be used during the two-hour debates. A few YouTubers will get invitations to join the live audience. The July 23 Democratic debate is planned for Charleston.

Some purists might wish YouTubers could vote on which questions to pose. CNN, however, will retain that job. That said, all submissions will be available on YouTube, before or after the debates.

YouTube already has started to build hype for the debates. An online video features Steve Grove, YouTube's editor of news and politics, and CNN anchor/star Anderson Cooper, who will moderate the debates.

Cooper had a few bits of advice for questioners, including one that some might not follow.

"Keep it clean," he said.

Submit your question on YouTube.