Presidential candidates John Kerry and George Bush have tentatively agreed to participate in all three proposed debate events, including the Oct. 8 debate at Washington University, the Washington Post and Associated Press reported late Sunday night.
The report comes in the wake of weeklong negotiations in which Bush’s debate team reportedly had initially pressed for only two face-to-face meetings between the candidates. Many speculated that if one of the three proposed presidential debates were to be cut, it would be the one at the University because of its town hall-style format.
Both the Post and the AP reported last night that the town hall format is still the sticking point in the negotiations, and that the entire debate deal is contingent upon resolving the details of the town hall format’s details.
Student Union President David Ader said yesterday that he is pleased that the candidates have tentatively agreed to face off at the University. Though Ader expressed reservation about the still-tentative nature of the event, he is excited about the progress in the negotiations.
“I’m so relieved and excited,” said Ader. “It sort of puts new energy into what we’re doing now. Our debate preparations have totally new meaning now.”
After rumors regarding the Bush campaign’s possible interest in cutting the Oct. 8 debate from the schedule, Student Union (SU) composed a “Letter of Enthusiasm” that was sent to the campaign headquarters of each candidate along with the signatures of over 1,000 University students. The more than 35 pages of signatures were collected in the span of two hours.
Ader hopes that SU’s determination and the support of students were noticed by the two campaign teams.
“We certainly would like to think that the petition helped, and we’re hoping that it did get to the campaigns somehow,” said Ader. “I hope that the efforts of the over 1,000 people in this were noticed.”
While members of the University community have expressed pleasure that the candidates will face off on campus, Jeff Smith, adjunct professor of political science, was not surprised that no agreement has yet been reached in regards to the setup of the Oct. 8 event.
“It will be interesting to see if [Bush] agrees to the town hall format in light of the difficulties that both he and his father have had with this type of venue in the past,” said Smith.
According to Jim Davis, professor of political science, the style factor may be one of the leading variables in the Bush campaign’s hesitation.
“If [the Bush campaign] does get the debate commission to change to another format, I think it will increase the chances of having all three debates,” said Davis. “I didn’t think that they wanted the town hall debate.”
As much as those at Washington University might have needed a quick end to the negotiations, the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) claimed it wanted one even more. Last Wednesday, the debate commission demanded that the Bush-Cheney and Kerry-Edwards campaigns meet with CPD officials by tonight to firm up the debate schedule.
But tonight’s deadline was a soft one, since both the CPD and Washington University were content to continue planning for the debate even if no resolution had been reached today.
Even with the reported tentative agreement, it is unclear if the campaigns will meet tonight’s deadline by discussing the deal with the CPD.
Representatives of the CPD did not return Student Life’s phone calls yesterday, but as of Friday afternoon, the CPD still had not had any contact with either campaign.
Multiple University administrators also confirmed that no official word has been passed down from the commission about any firm agreement.
Administrators said yesterday that until this happens, they will continue, as they have been, to plan as if the debate will happen, but that they hope to hear an official word from the CPD soon.
University officials have been optimistic about the debate all along. As recently as Friday morning, when many top University administrators met to discuss debate plans, multiple sources present at that meeting have said there was no mention made of any possible cancellation. Also on Friday, e-mails went out to approximately 250 students to inform them they had been selected as debate volunteers.
The possible resolution to the debate about the debates comes only 10 days before the first proposed debate, scheduled for next Thursday at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla.
That is the same day that the Hilltop’s Athletic Complex (AC) is slated to close to students to make way for construction workers, who will transform the center into the debate hall. The AC will reopen to students on Monday, Oct. 11. During the AC’s closure, the University plans to allow students to access Clayton-area athletic facilities for free or for a nominal fee.
The other proposed presidential debate is scheduled to take place at Arizona State University in Tempe on Oct. 13. Vice-presidential candidates Dick Cheney and John Edwards are set to face off at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, on Oct. 5.