Wake Forest chosen as backup site for 2008 presidential debates

November 19, 2007

Wake Forest University, where presidential debates were held in 2000 and 1988, is a backup site for the 2008 presidential debates.

The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) announced Nov. 19 that Wake Forest is serving as one of two backup sites for the debates scheduled for next fall.  Centre College in Danville, Ky., will be the other backup site.

The presidential debates are scheduled to be held Sept. 26 at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Miss., Oct. 7 at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., and Oct. 15 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y.  A vice presidential debate will be held Oct. 2 at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.

Last April, the CPD announced that it was considering 19 applicants to host the debates.

Wake Forest hosted a 2000 debate between George W. Bush and Al Gore and a 1988 debate between George Bush and Michael Dukakis.

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Kevin Cox
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Cheryl Walker
(336) 758-5237