Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC's "Hardball," will moderate the May 3 GOP presidential debate at the Reagan Library, officials announced Tuesday.

The same evening, Matthews will air a "Hardball" program from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum with analysis of the debate, the first debate of its kind in Ventura County.

"Debates put presidential candidates on the same stage. That's the way voters like to see them, squaring off, testing their wits, competing with ideas," Matthews said in a news release. "It's an honor to be moderating the first Republican debate."

The 10 candidates who have confirmed they will attend are Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, California Rep. Duncan Hunter, former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado and Tommy Thompson, former Wisconsin governor and secretary of Health and Human Services under President George W. Bush.

The MSNBC cable network and Politico.com are collaborating with the library on the event. MSNBC will broadcast it on television and live online.

Details have yet to emerge about the format of the debate, which will take place from 5 to 7:30 p.m. and will air live on the MSNBC cable network and stream live on MSNBC.com and Politico.com. Last week, it was announced the library will not be offering tickets to the general public. However, people can submit questions for the candidates online at Politico.com, a politically focused Web site that launched recently with two Washington Post reporters at the helm.

It is not known how many questions will be asked, but a combination of questions from online submissions and from Matthews is expected, MSNBC officials said Tuesday.

While some local party supporters might attend, the Ventura County Republican Central Committee is planning to host a party and watch the debate at nearby Grand Vista Hotel, said Chairman Mike Osborn.

The GOP debate will be the first presidential debate at any presidential library and a landmark political event for the Reagan Library.

MSNBC is also hosting the Democratic debate in South Carolina on April 26. That debate will be hosted by Brian Williams, NBC "Nightly News" anchor.

It will be Williams' third time moderating a presidential candidates debate. In September 2003, he moderated a CNBC/Wall Street Journal Democratic candidate debate and a Republican candidates debate in South Carolina in 2000.

MSNBC's "First in the Nation" debates will feature political coverage up to and after the debates on April 26 and May 3.

"This is the first chance for voters to see these candidates relate to each other, and it's a perfect time in the campaign to see how they compare," Matthews said in a news release. "My goal is to give each candidate a maximum opportunity to present his positions."