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The Presidential Debate at Belmont will be held in the Curb Event Center, home of the NCAA Division-I Belmont Bruins basketball and volleyball teams and host site of the live CMT Music Awards show two years in a row. With a generous gift from the Mike Curb Family Foundation, The Curb Event Center opened in 2003. Seating 5,500 and equipped with state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems, the versatile, in-the-round facility is ideal for the Town Hall format, in which citizens propose questions directly to the candidates. The debate is expected to attract more than 2,500 members of the media to Nashville, along with the candidates campaigns and supporters, and will be viewed by millions worldwide.

The CPD was established in 1987 to ensure that the debates provide the best possible information to viewers and listeners. Its primary purpose is to sponsor and produce debates for the United States leading presidential and vice presidential candidates and to undertake research and educational activities relating to the debates. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization sponsored all the general election debates in 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004.

Civic organizations and state and local government officials have supported Belmont's bid for the presidential debate. Former Nashville mayor Bill Purcell, Tennessee governor Phil Bredesen and senators Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander, and congressman Jim Cooper all wrote letters in support of Belmont and bringing one of the debates to Tennessee. In his letter to the CPD, Governor Bredesen wrote, The Presidential Debates would find a compatible home at Belmont University where students with inquisitive minds take their roles as future citizens of our community, nation and world very seriously.

Hosting the debate at Belmont will engage our students in the political process through invaluable first-hand participation, Dan McAlexander, Provost at Belmont, said. Belmont takes seriously its mission to prepare its students for success in the real world, and serving as host site for the presidential debate will give our students invaluable tools in critical thinking and practical experience as they take an active role in what will surely be an historical election.

For additional information, visit the Web site for the Commission on Presidential Debates.

I watched the debate on Fox News Channel. Did anybody notice that immediately after the debate that the cameras did not show McCain after the first minute or so but focused on Barry and Michelle, my belle (NOT) shaking hands and taking pictures with the crowd? What happened to the McCains after the debate?

Also, anybody else find that Sen. Claire McCaskill is getting a lot of face time and is extremely annoying with all her talking points and lies? I would not care to see her any more on TV.