Presidential Debate: Impact and Cost

The New York Times has a story about the impact hosting a Presidential debate can have:

Greg Pillon, the marketing and communications director for Belmont, said the publicity value of staging the debate was estimated as of Tuesday to be $21.6 million, according to the company it hired to track mentions of Belmont in the news media, News Power Online. There were 3,920 television mentions since the end of September, he said, and the university’s web site traffic had intensified.

The cost?

...the university still needed to solicit more donations to cover the roughly $3 million it spent on the event.

"We’re not quite there, but we will be," Robert Fisher, Belmont University’s president, said in an ebullient telephone interview this morning. "It’s the easiest money I’ve ever had to raise."

My Wife's McCain Sighting

My wife saw John McCain earlier today as he was leaving the Marriott. She reported that some folks were irritated that they were momentarily barred by police from proceeding on foot or by car as McCain and his entourage got into their motorcade and departed. I feel like she does - what is their problem? It's an honor to have this debate here, and it's silly to be put out because you had to stop briefly to let a presidential candidate move from one place to another. We've had several presidential visits to Nashville over the years where similar situations occurred. I don't think it's asking much of our so-called "Southern hospitality" to just smile and wave as the motorcade goes by.

Belmont Prez on Prez Debate

Larry Woods interviewed Belmont President Bob Fisher on Thursday's The Steve Gill Show about the upcoming presidential debate. Listen to their radio conversation here.

Presidential Debate Update Meeting

The following was part of an email last night from District 18 Metro Councilman Keith Durbin:

"Belmont Debate 2008 Neighborhood Update Meeting
- Thursday August 14

The presidential debate to be held at Belmont University is fast approaching. On Tuesday, October 7 the eyes of the world will be on Nashville. Many in the neighborhood have had questions as to how the debate will affect them. Earlier this spring a community meeting allowed neighbors to ask questions and Belmont staff to provide the answers they had at that time.

On Thursday, August 14 at 6:30 pm, we'll hold a second meeting to present the current event plans and allow the community to ask questions. The meeting will be held in the Curb Event Center Beaman Rooms A&B. All community members are invited.

Belmont has a site set up to provide information about the debate for the community: www.belmontdebate08.com."

It was announced Tuesday that former NBC anchor Tom Brokaw will moderate the town hall-style forum.