This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Oct. 31, 2011 - Washington University in St. Louis is disappointed, but not surprised, by today's news that its 20-year run as a debate site for the quadrennial presidential, and vice presidential, debates has officially come to a close -- probably.
"We put our best foot forward," said Rob Wild, assistant to Chancellor Mark Wrighton. But he added that university officials also recognized that it "was probably unrealistic to have high hopes'' given the school's string of selections -- unmatched by any other university in the country.
In fact, the university had privately gotten the bad news in a call last week from the Commission on Presidential Debates, which also asked whether Wash U was willing to be the designated backup.
That's why there's still a glimmer of hope. Something could happen -- like a storm or earthquake -- that knocks out one of the designated sites.
The sites for the three presidential debates are: University of Denver, Oct. 3, 2012; Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., Oct. 16; and Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla., Oct. 22.
The vice presidential debate is set for Oct. 11, 2012 at Centre College in Danville, Ky.
Hofstra is the only repeat choice from the 2008 debates.
Wild said the pertinent Washington University officials and student groups will be assembled shortly to explain what the "back-up'' role means and what preparations need to be made "just in case."
From experience, Washington University already is aware that the key readiness issues involve facilities, equipment and security, he said.
"We're very ready to stand in as the back-up in this case,'' Wild said.
In 1992, he noted, Washington University had only seven days notice before it hosted the first of four presidential debates between then-President George H.W. Bush, the Republican incumbent; Democrat Bill Clinton, then the governor of Arkansas; and independent Ross Perot, a Texas businessman who had energized the contest with his candidacy and his focus on the federal government's debt.
Washington University was chosen again for the 1996 kickoff debate with Clinton, then the incumbent; Perot; and Republican Bob Dole, a U.S. senator from Kansas. But a scheduling dispute involving Clinton scuttled that debate, although Dole and Perot did show up elsewhere in St. Louis that day to underscore that they had been available.
In 2000, the commission rewarded Washington University by selecting it again — this time for the second debate, with a town-hall format, between Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore. The Oct. 17 event almost was delayed because of the plane crash the night before that killed then-Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan.
In 2004, the university once again hosted the town-hall debate, this time between then-President Bush and Democrat John Kerry, a U.S. senator from Massachusetts.
In 2008, Washington University already had learned that it was not among the first-round picks, when the choice for the vice-presidential debate backed out.
The commission asked Washington University if it was willing to step in. As it turned out, the 2008 faceoff between Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden and Republican Sarah Palin arguably got more public and press attention than the three presidential debates between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain.
Wild said the university was pleased that the commission recognized that Washington University has the resources and the record to step in as a sub, if needed.
"The commission knows we have a facility and a team here in place to put one together on short notice,'' he said. Wild, by the way, was a Washington University student back in 1992.
