Celebrate as the national spotlight shines on Centre College, Danville, and Kentucky during the 2012 Vice Presidential Debate!
The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) has selected Centre College to host the Vice Presidential Debate on Oct. 11, 2012. This will be the second of four general election debates. CPD candidate selection criteria is available on their website.
News & Updates
- Road Closings Due to the Vice Presidential Debate at Centre College10-5-2012
- Secretary of State Grimes and KET’s Shaw to attend “Our Voice, Our Future” VP Debate event at Centre10-4-2012
- David Brooks chats with students about politics and the debate10-4-2012
- Updated Media Information: Arriving at the Debate9-27-2012
- Bluegrass Ultra-Transit Servis (BUS) Program to provide freeshuttle service in the city of Danville on October 119-27-2012
Centre VP Debates: 2000 and 2012
Dubbed “The Thrill in the Ville,” the 2000 Vice Presidential Debate between Democrat Joe Lieberman and Republican Dick Cheney was Centre College’s first experience as a general election debate host site. At the announcement of receiving the 2000 VP debate, Centre received attention for being the smallest institution ever chosen to host a televised general election debate. But the real accolades came pouring in after the event.
In 2012, the excitement is building for the debate on 10.11.12, and the media are already abuzz.
Here is a sampling of what the media said about the 2000 Vice Presidential Debate and are saying about this year's event.
“As close to flawless as humanly possible.”
—Associated Press, October 2000
“Centre put on a five-star debate.”
—Dan Rather, CBS News, October 2000
“Even for the ‘city of firsts,’ as [Danville] is known, the vice presidential debate…packs the historical punch.”
—The Boston Globe, October 6, 2000
“The whole day was a happy pageant of Norman Rockwell meets Alexis de Tocqueville.”
—The Washington Post, October 6, 2000
“Isn’t this great? Tell the press if they want my spin, the chairman’s out here under a tree.”
—William Daley, Gore campaign chairman, October 6, 2000
"That’s when the quiet, idyllic Danville for a few days in October becomes the center of the political world. "
—Jean West, WAVE3, August 29, 2012
"The vice presidential debate on October 11 at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, will likely be the most important of the ticket-vs.-ticket debates."
—Steve Clemons, The Atlantic, August 13, 2012
