Case to host 2004 vice presidential debate

For immediate release: November 6, 2003
For more information, contact Laura M. Massie 216-368-4442 or laura.massie@case.edu.

CLEVELAND—The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) has announced that Case Western Reserve University will host the U.S. vice presidential debate on October 5, 2004.

"Case's tradition of open inquiry and civic involvement makes it the perfect venue for one of the highlights of the 2004 presidential election," said Case President Edward M. Hundert, M.D.

Hundert, along with Barbara Byrd-Bennett, chief executive officer of the Cleveland Municipal School District, and Dennis Eckart, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Cleveland Growth Association, will serve as co-chairs of the event.

Case was selected 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," said Paul G. Kirk Jr. and Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr., co-chairmen of the CPD. "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."

Hundert agreed. "Hosting the debate will be a great teachable moment," he said. "It presents an opportunity to inspire the thousands of students in the region who will be following the election in schools and across college campuses in Cleveland, Northeastern Ohio, the Midwest, and the country."

Cleveland has not hosted a presidential debate since 1980 when former U.S. President Ronald Reagan faced then-President Jimmy Carter.

Kirk and Fahrenkopf, co-chairmen of CPD, also announced all sites and dates for the 2004 general election debates.

They are:

First presidential debate
University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
Thursday, September 30

Vice Presidential Debate
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
Tuesday, October 5

Second presidential debate
Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
Friday, October 8

Third presidential debate
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Wednesday, October 13

The CPD also announced two back-up sites, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, and the University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.

All debates will start at 9:00 p.m. ET.

The CPD is the non-partisan, non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) corporation that has sponsored all presidential and vice presidential debates since 1988. On September 24 , 2003, the CPD announced its 2004 candidate selection criteria. It will announce format recommendations for the 2004 debates early next year.

For more information, the CPD's website is http://www.debates.org.

Established in 1987, the CPD is the non-partisan, non-profit, tax-exempt, (501)(c)(3) organization that sponsored the presidential debates in 1988, 1992, 1996, and 2000.

About Case Western Reserve University

Case is among the nation's leading research institutions. Founded in 1826 and shaped by the unique merger of the Case Institute of Technology and Western Reserve University, Case is distinguished by its strengths in education, research, and service. Located in Cleveland, Case offers nationally recognized programs in the Arts and Sciences, Dentistry, Engineering, Law, Management, Medicine, Nursing, and Social Sciences. http://www.case.edu.

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