RELEASED: April 24, 2003

DANVILLE, KY—Centre College has been named by the Commission on Presidential Debates as one of the 14 sites under consideration to host a General Election debate in 2004. In 2000 Centre hosted the only debate between vice presidential candidates Dick Cheney and Joe Lieberman.

On learning that the institution he heads is one of the named sites, Centre President John Roush said, "We're honored and gratified that the commission is considering us for 2004. Hosting the vice presidential debate in 2000 was an unqualified success, and I'm sure that put us high on the list for 2004. While we've made no commitments to being a debate site in the upcoming election, our positive experience last time around means we'll certainly explore this possibility."

At the conclusion of the 2000 vice presidential debate, Janet Brown, executive director of the Commission of Presidential Debates, said, "Centre has set the standard by which other debates will be judged." CBS news anchor Dan Rather declared that the college hosted "the finest vice-presidential debate ever held."

The commission plans to announce the final debate sites in November.

The other institutions/entities being considered are Arizona State University; Belmont University (Tenn.); Case Western Reserve (Ohio); Columbus, Ga., and Columbus State University; Greater Pittsburgh Convention and Visitors Bureau; National Public Radio; Rochester (N.Y.) Institute of Technology; University of Kansas; University of Miami (Fla.); University of North Carolina at Charlotte and the City of Charlotte; University of South Carolina; Vanderbilt University (Tenn.); and Washington University in St. Louis.

For a recap of Centre's hosting of the 2000 vice presidential debate (along with pictures of the event), go to http://www.centre.edu/web/news/presdebate/debatekit.html. Visit www.debates.org to access the site of the Commission on Presidential Debates.

- end -

Back to News and Events Home Page