Washington University selected as ‘backup’ for ’12 presidential debates
WASHINGTON • first, St. Louis was bypassed as ahost for next summer’s Democratic National Convention.
Now Washington University isn’t among thefrontline debate venues in next year’s election announced thisafternoon by the Commission on PresidentialDebates.
Instead, Washington University, a debate site since 2000, willserve as the backup in the schedule of three presidential debatesand the contest between the major party candidates’ running matesnext year.
The schedule spelled out today is:
• Oct. 3. first presidential debate, University ofDenver, Denver, Colo.
• Oct. 11. Vice presidential debate, CentreCollege, Danville, Ken.
• Oct. 16. Second presidential debate (town meeting format),Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY.
• Oct. 22. Third presidential debate, LynnUniversity, Boca Raton, Fla.
Washington University held the vice presidential debate in 2008between Joe Biden and Sarah Palinand hosted presidential debates in 2004, 2000 and 1992. The St.Louis university was chosen as well in 1996 but lost out when thepresidential campaigns decided late to limit the number ofdebates.
As backup next year, Washington University would become host inthe event that an unforseen problem, such as a devastating storm atone of the sites or failure of one of the universities to live upto their commitments. Washington University stepped in late in1992, recalled Janet Brown, executive director ofthe commission, when difficulties arose.
Washington University was selected four years ago when anotheruniversity balked at holding the vice presidential debate. The St.Louis debate turned out to be the most viewed and arguably themost compelling of the year.
“We’ve learned over the years that you need to have a backup andyou don’t want to go to a new site. you want to go to a site thatknows the drill,” Brown said. “They are great people at WashingtonUniversity. They are the gold standard of debates.”
The nonpartisan debate commission was set up in 1987 to overseeand produce presidential debates. it includes political figures ofboth major parties; today’s announcement was made by theco-chairmen, Frank Fahrenkopf, a former GOPnational chairman, and Michael McCurry, WhiteHouse press secretary in the Clinton administration.
Nonetheless, decisions on debates ultimately reside with thepresidential candidates themselves, who overruled the decision onthe St. Louis debate in 1996.
Colleges and universities submitted applications prior to adeadline last spring. Criteria for selection include such factorsas the capacity to provide an appropriate debate hall and mediafiling center, location for convenient travel and communitysupport.
Washington University selected as ‘backup’ for ’12 presidential debates
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