Washington University confirmed that they have applied to host a presidential debate in 2012. The University hosted the 2008 vice-presidential debate, between then-candidates Sarah Palin and Joseph Biden. Before that, the University hosted presidential debates in 1992, 2000 and 2004.

St. Louis lost its bid to host the 2012 Democratic National Convention earlier this month. On Feb. 1, the Democratic National Committee opted to hold the convention in Charlotte, N.C., leaving out the remaining finalists St. Louis, Cleveland and Minneapolis.

Drawing in more viewers than any other vice presidential debate in history, Thursday’s vice presidential debate at Washington University went off without a hitch, University Chancellor Mark Wrighton said.

A total of 432 students received tickets to the vice presidential debate—close to three times the number of students who had received tickets at previous debates.

When Washington University received the offer to host the vice presidential debate in November 2007, it was the second choice for an event that pundits never predicted would amass the media attention it did.

As I watch Washington University prepare for the vice presidential debate tonight, one question keeps haunting me: Why host the debate on a college campus?

Fought out between Democrat Walter Mondale and Republican Bob Dole, the first vice presidential debate in 1976 was held much in the same format as a presidential debate, covering the same issues the presidential candidates had discussed in three previous debates.

Though heightened security and bustling activity surrounds the run-up to the vice presidential debate, the national spotlight is nothing new for administrators at Washington University.

Correction Appended Below Standing before podiums in the Athletic Complex yesterday, students tackled key issues such as the state of Krispy Kreme donuts and the best childhood snacks in order to test the conditions of the debate hall. The Commission on Presidential Debates used Washington University students who bore some resemblance to the vice presidential [...]