Big media interest in VP debate

ST. LOUIS -- The vice presidential debate in St. Louis is drawing big interest from the media.

Joani Wardwell of the Commission on Presidential Debates hosted a walkthrough Monday at the debate site, Washington University in St. Louis. Democrat Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware and Republican Sarah Palin, Alaska's governor, square off there Thursday.

Washington University has been chosen for a debate every election year since the commission began in 1992, but this marks the first vice presidential debate the university has hosted. Wardwell said that with the first presidential debate and the VP debate just six days apart, it was "comforting" to know the university with such a strong track record was in charge.

"It's like coming home again in so many ways," she said.

Some at Washington University weren't thrilled last year when the commission bypassed St. Louis for one of the three presidential debates -- the VP debate seemed almost a consolation prize.

Not anymore.

Interest in the debate has skyrocketed since the selection of Palin since much of America knew little about her before now. Wardwell said 3,100 media credentials have been assigned, the most ever for a vice presidential debate hosted by the commission and just 100 fewer than the 3,200 credentials for Friday's first presidential debate in Mississippi.

"The requests did go up [after the candidates were picked] and we did have a large contingent from Alaska and Delaware," Wardwell said.

By Monday afternoon, media trucks and vans were already lined up on the grass next to Washington University's Field House, where the debate will take place. Rob Wild, chairman of the Vice Presidential Debate Steering Committee for Washington University, said 650 police officers from St. Louis and surrounding communities will provide security. Fifty staff members and hundreds of student volunteers have been working for more than a year to get things ready.

"There's quite a buzz among our students, our faculty and our staff," Wild said. "It's a real exciting time for the university and St. Louis."

The debate begins at 8 p.m. and will last 90 minutes. Both candidates will stand on the podium while the moderator, PBS's Gwen Ifill, sits at a desk. Each candidate will have 90 seconds to answer each question, followed by a two-minute period for open discussion. Wardwell expects time for about 16 questions.