THE EYES OF TEXAS ARE UPON THEM
In what promises to be the most important presidential debate since Kennedy-Nixon, Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton will square off next week in a televised showdown which may well decide who gets the Democratic nomination.
All eyes are on Austin in the runup to the statewide presidential primary debate which will take place on March 4th. Democratic strategists predict that if Hillary Clinton does not win Texas and Ohio, her campaign is over. That’s why next Thursday’s debate is so critical.
Ironically enough, the site chosen for this key debate is the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library on the University of Texas at Austin campus. Many will recall the uproar caused by Senator Clinton’s comments comparing herself to LBJ earlier this year, in a move some civil rights activists interpreted as an effort to minimize the efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – a struggle he gave his life for.
The Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library and Museum, Austin, TX
CNN will televise the must-see debate live on Thursday, Feb. 21, from 7-8:30 p.m. CST.
Although the event was originally scheduled to take place in the LBJ auditorium, organizers decided to move the debate to a larger venue on campus in order to accommodate the massive number of people wishing to witness this historic showdown.
As of today, here are the known details, according to the University Of Texas website:
WHERE: Recreational Sports Center (between the School of Social Work and the Moncrief-Neuhaus Athletics Center). A map of campus is online.
To accommodate the National Democratic Primary Debate, the RSC will close at 2 p.m. on Monday, February 18, and re-open at 8 a.m. on Saturday, February 23.
SEATING INFORMATION: Distribution of student seating for the debate is being managed by the Office of the Dean of Students. Questions: 512-471-5017.
BACKGROUND: The debate is hosted by the University Democrats, a registered student organization, and is presented by the Lyndon B. Johnson Foundation on behalf of the LBJ School of Public Affairs and the LBJ Library, CNN and Univision Communications, Inc.
Admission for students, members of the university community and the public is by invitation only due to what the university calls “security restrictions”.
Come to think of it, perhaps it wouldn’t be a bad idea to keep the public at a safe distance after all. When these two candidates enter the arena that night for the battle of their lives, they won’t be pussyfootin’ around. For this duel, 10 paces may not be far enough.
But seriously…all here in Austin are thrilled to host the candidates for this debate, and we welcome them to the Wild Wild West next week.
“Ya’ Ready?….now, DRAW!”
New Frontier
Editor
moseljack
2 Comments
February 14, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Everything at this point is so calculated. It will play out just like a heavy weight fight in which there are some jabs thrown but neither candidate will open themselves up to a big counter-punch by being overly aggressive.
There will be a little dancing around the ring and a couple of body blows but both will be looking to go the full 15 round and win on points over a knockout.
February 20, 2008 at 10:37 pm
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