Lexington, KY - Centre College will host its second Vice Presidential debate in a dozen years in 2012 when the two VP nominees will square off in Danville next October.
In 2000 Dick Cheney and Joe Liberman held their only debate in what arguably turned out to be the most hotly contested presidential race in history. This time around Centre's Norton Center will host those looking to hold the second highest ranking office in the country on October 11th, 2012. Both Centre and Richmond's Eastern Kentucky University applied to hold one of four debates sanctioned by the Commission on Presidential Debates.
The three presidential debates will be held at the University of Denver, on October 3rd, Hofstra University, in Hempstead, NY on October 16th and at Lynn University in Boca Raton, FL on October 22nd. St. Louis's Washington University, a debate veteran, will be the backup site.
Commission Executive Director Janet Brown said that Centre's selection was based on several factors, according to a release from Centre. "First, Centre did an outstanding job of hosting the 2000 Vice Presidential debate. Second, Centre's principal players from that debate are still at the College, and we value that experience. Finally, Centre's facilities, as good as they were in 2000, are vastly improved now."
Centre's President John A. Roush relished the opportunity to once again showcase the school and its hometown. "When we hosted the 2000 Vice Presidential debate, Centre and Danville were by far the smallest college and town to host a general election debate, but by all accounts we set a new standard. We are proud of the confidence that the Commission has again expressed in Centre and Danville."
EKU's President Doug Whitlock congratulated Centre while stating their desire to have been selected. "Naturally, we are disappointed that we were not selected," he said, "but it was an honor to have been considered, and we certainly wish each of the successful campuses the best as they prepare to host debates next year. I am especially pleased for our friends at Centre College."
The other schools that applied to host the 2012 debates in addition to EKU and those awarded were Belmont University in Nashville a 2008 site, Dominican University of California in San Rafael, Indiana University, Saint Mary's College of California
in Moraga, The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey in
Pomona and Wake Forest University
in Winston-Salem.