Yippee! A presidential debate among Democrats in my backyard! Cool!

[Lobster Martini]

(LM: I’d been hoping to have a World Series in Philadelphia this year, but since that now seems unlikely, having a presidential debate in town for the first time in more than 30 years is pretty cool, despite the fact that the debate is six weeks and one day away and the location is still undetermined. Memo to presidential candidates: I am willing to clean the kitchen if you want to debate here, but my terrier will bark.)

Phila.'s presidential debate set for Oct. 30

In the early phases of the 2008 presidential campaign, the Philadelphia area hasn't received much attention, which isn't surprising since the party nominations may be decided long before the Pennsylvania primary in April.

<snip>

On Oct. 30, the eight Democratic candidates are scheduled to come to Philadelphia for a televised debate, the first presidential debate in the city since 1976.

<snip>

Expected to participate Oct. 30 are Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, Sen. Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut, former Sens. John Edwards of North Carolina and Mike Gravel of Alaska, Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.
This would be the third time a televised, national political debate has been held in Philadelphia.

On Sept. 23, 1976, President Gerald R. Ford and his Democratic challenger, Jimmy Carter, came to the Walnut Street Theater for the first of their three debates that fall.

That encounter marked the first time in U.S. history that a president had agreed to debate and only the second time (after 1960) that any televised debates had been held.

It is remembered largely for a failure in the sound system that left Ford and Carter standing at their lecterns in uncomfortable silence for nearly half an hour.

On Oct. 11, 1984, the now-demolished Convention Center in University City was host to a vice presidential debate between incumbent George H.W. Bush and Democrat Geraldine Ferraro, the first woman ever on a major-party national ticket.

And the third such debate in the city's history is scheduled for Oct. 30.

(Link: http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20070917_Phila_s_presidential_debate_set_for_Oct__30.html)

[zanne]

1. Congratulations!

Do you think you'll get to go? That would be great.

[Lobster Martini]

2. I am going to call my congresscritter

I have no idea--I expect that many in the audience will be donors, but I will find out what it takes to get in. I am placing the call now.

[zanne]

3. Let us know what happens! nt