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Arizona State University to host presidential debate in 2004

The eyes and ears of the world will turn to Arizona State University and Tempe as ASU's Gammage Auditorium hosts the final presidential debate of the year on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2004. The debate will begin at 9 p.m. ET.

The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) announced this morning that Arizona State University will be the site of the third presidential debate of the 2004 election cycle.

"As part of the greater Valley community, ASU is thrilled and honored to play host to an event of this magnitude," said ASU President Michael Crow. "The attention of the world will be focused on the Valley and ASU, as the power of American democracy is demonstrated through this debate. It's a fantastic event for both the university and the community."

Tempe Mayor Neil Guiliano was ecstatic that ASU has been chosen as a host site.

"Tempe and ASU have worked hard to attract the debate to our community and the fact that it will be the final debate preceding the election makes the event even more important," he said. "It draws the attention of the world and the nation to Arizona, Tempe and ASU."

"ASU is the largest university campus and Tempe the first non-California city in the western United States to ever host a presidential debate," he said.

Paul G. Kirk, Jr., and Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., co-chairmen of the CPD, made the announcement at noon today in Washington, D.C.

Kirk and Fahrenkopf said the sites of four debates (three presidential and one vice presidential) were chosen from 14 formal proposals submitted to the CPD last March. "Each election cycle, we hear from a growing number of communities interested in hosting a debate. We are honored by their commitment to be part of these historic events. Taking the debates to campuses around the country allows the CPD to engage thousands of young people in the political process through first-hand participation."

The CPD is the non-partisan, non-profit, tax-exempt 50(c)(3) corporation that has sponsored all presidential and vice presidential debates since 1988. The CPD will announce format recommendations for the 2004 debates early next year. The CPD website is www.debates.org.