DANVILLE DEBATE
By JULIE CLAY, '98, JOU
Copy Editor/Staff Writer
The Advocate-Messenger

DANVILLE, Ky. - My hometown, which has been touted heavily as the City of Firsts, pulled off a major national news event when it hosted the lone vice presidential debate Oct. 6, between Republican Dick Cheney and Democrat Joe Lieberman. The debate was held at Centre College, a small liberal arts school that also hosts thousands for the annual Great American Brass Band Festival each June.

At my paper, debate coverage was a major focus for 10 months prior to the actual event - from Centre College students renting their rooms on eBay, security plans and loads of beautification projects going on all year. The Boyle County Airport got money for lighting for the occasion, and a road going into town was repaved in preparation.

The debate itself was contested in September, when the Republicans attempted to shift all of the debate plans around. But a public relations campaign and pressure by Kentucky's Congressional delegation kept the debate here.

On the big day, excitement was running high all over town. Events were planned for the candidates all day, although they were only going to be in town for a few hours. Every reporter in the newsroom was assigned a beat for the day.

Mine was covering a Habitat for Humanity house that the candidates were supposed to help build; however, neither came. Instead, Hadassah Lieberman and Cheney's daughter, Liz Perry, hammered a few nails and posed for photos as I juggled for position amongst a throng of very obnoxious national photographers and TV reporters at the worksite.They put us at the fringe of the building site when Mrs. Lieberman came, so, teetering gingerly on a pile of plywood, I shot what I could and got out of there.

Walking back to the office, I watched Cheney's limo and motorcade take the back way to the Norton Center for a run-through of the staging later that night. It was the closest I got to the future vice president.

I walked downtown, covering the protesters as the debate hour approached. When the debate started, I went to Democratic headquarters on Main Street to get reaction from Lieberman fans.

It was my 16th hour at work when Joe and Hadassah Lieberman entered the old Hub store before a crowd of cheering fans. I got a great shot of him greeting the Democratic faithful. He saluted me with his trademark salute of an upraised thumb.

It made my day.