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Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 9/27/07 Section: News
Dems to butt heads in Philadelphia this October
Ashwin Shandilya
Barack Obama sparring with Hillary Clinton, Dennis Kucinich trying not to be ignored and John Edwards' hair - it's all coming to Philadelphia next month.
State Democratic party officials have confirmed that the Democratic National Committee will hold its fourth official primary presidential debate in Philadelphia Oct. 30.
DNC officials had previously announced in May that a debate would be slated for Philadelphia at some time in October.
A month before the event, a venue has still yet to be confirmed, but state party spokesman Abe Amoros said the debate would go on as planned.
A source familiar with the situation said officials have reserved space for the debate at Drexel University, but the venue has been changed three times in the past month and could be changed again.
A spokeswoman at MSNBC, which is co-sponsoring the debate along with the state party and which is responsible for choosing the venue, said she did not know when details about the debate would be released.
But among the few possible venues for the event - Temple University and the National Constitution Center have also been mentioned as possible locations - Penn doesn't seem to be one of them.
Clayton Robinson, president of the Penn Democrats, said his group had tried hard to bring the debate to campus but couldn't because of logistical problems.
"The date of the debate was fixed for Oct. 30, and we couldn't find a proper venue on that day for the event," he said.
Amoros said all eight Democratic candidates are expected to participate.
Because of its relatively late primary, Pennsylvania hasn't seen a presidential debate since 1976, when President Gerald Ford debated Democratic candidate Jimmy Carter in the Walnut Street Theater.
Still, the state plays a large role in the general election because of its 21 electoral votes, making it important for Democratic candidates to get an early foothold, said Political Science professor Richard Johnston.
State Democratic party officials have confirmed that the Democratic National Committee will hold its fourth official primary presidential debate in Philadelphia Oct. 30.
DNC officials had previously announced in May that a debate would be slated for Philadelphia at some time in October.
A month before the event, a venue has still yet to be confirmed, but state party spokesman Abe Amoros said the debate would go on as planned.
A source familiar with the situation said officials have reserved space for the debate at Drexel University, but the venue has been changed three times in the past month and could be changed again.
A spokeswoman at MSNBC, which is co-sponsoring the debate along with the state party and which is responsible for choosing the venue, said she did not know when details about the debate would be released.
But among the few possible venues for the event - Temple University and the National Constitution Center have also been mentioned as possible locations - Penn doesn't seem to be one of them.
Clayton Robinson, president of the Penn Democrats, said his group had tried hard to bring the debate to campus but couldn't because of logistical problems.
"The date of the debate was fixed for Oct. 30, and we couldn't find a proper venue on that day for the event," he said.
Amoros said all eight Democratic candidates are expected to participate.
Because of its relatively late primary, Pennsylvania hasn't seen a presidential debate since 1976, when President Gerald Ford debated Democratic candidate Jimmy Carter in the Walnut Street Theater.
Still, the state plays a large role in the general election because of its 21 electoral votes, making it important for Democratic candidates to get an early foothold, said Political Science professor Richard Johnston.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Penn should try harder.......
posted 9/27/07 @ 7:06 AM EST
"The date of the debate was fixed for Oct. 30, and we couldn't find a proper venue on that day for the event," he said. Geeesssh, bump something.
You're always hearing how Penn needs exposure because people don't know it's an Ivy League school, or its name should be changed or something. (Continued…)
Penn '08
Not Penn State
posted 9/27/07 @ 1:00 PM EST
As much as I don't want these national security-undermining nutjobs on campus, I agree with the poster above...this is just another missed opportunity for Penn to bolster its image and reputation. (Continued…)
Quaker kid
posted 9/28/07 @ 1:37 PM EST
Looks like Drexel got it.
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