Palin, Palin, Palin

Posted by Ryan Underwood

John McCain's veep pick, Sarah "Barracuda" Palin, is burning up chat boards across the Internet. Tennessean.com is no exception. Here are some of the most heavily commented-upon stories in recent days:

• Palin blasts critics, Washington elite (408 comments)
• Most Clinton supporters say Palin is too far a stretch (290 comments)
• McCain to name Alaska governor as running mate (281 comments)
  

MySpace tapped to collect presidential debate questions

A reader asks how to get an "internet question" to the candidates for the Belmont debate if you're not chosen by Gallup.

Here's the deal: The Commission on Presidential Debates, which puts on all of the debates, and MySpace, have a deal to create content and stream all of the debates live at mydebates.org. The site, which has little more than a press release up right now, will be the only way to submit questions for the candidates. NBC special correspondent Tom Brokaw, who will moderate the Belmont debate, will then choose which questions make it to the candidates.

In order to submit a questions, I'm betting you'll have to have a free MySpace account. The CPD did not have a launch date for mydebates.org when I called this morning, but said the site will be up before the Sept. 26 debate at the University of Mississippi.

One Month to Go

If anyone needed a sign that Belmont University is a month away from hosting a presidential debate, here's a hint: Look at the flowers.

The campus has undergone a remarkable botanical transformation in the 10 months since the Commission on Presidential Debates named Belmont as the host of the political season's only town-hall-style presidential debate.

But as the Oct. 7 event nears, it's more than just flowers that mark the preparations for a debate that will put Belmont, and Nashville, squarely in the middle of one of the most captivating presidential races America has seen in at least two decades.

There are the Secret Service sweeps through the adjacent neighborhoods, complete with federal agents reassuring residents their houses won't be invaded. There are the copious signs, including the 720-square-foot banner draped from the bell tower on Belmont's campus and the debate-themed parking tags plastered on every Belmont student's car. And then there's the single question being asked all over town: Can I get a ticket? (Answer: Not likely.)

Click here to read the whole story.

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(Photo credit: Mandy Lunn/The Tennessean)

Welcome!

Well, the Spackle is still showing and we have to add indoor plumbing, but you've come across The Tennessean's home for coverage of the 2008 Presidential Town Hall Debate at Belmont University. Over the next month I'll be guiding you through the ins and outs of the planning, events and debates surrounding the debate. This bad boy is meant to be as interactive as possible, so chime in early and often. If there's something in particular you want to see, let me know either through the comments or by e-mailing me at ccsledge-at-tennessean-dot-com (sorry, trying to throw off the spammers). For now, here are a few links to get us started, and you'll be seeing much more going up tonight and in the days to come. Let the great debate begin!

Belmont University's official debate Web site
Events surrounding Debate '08
The Tennessean Politics Blog
The Tennessean Education Blog

And in case you're curious about what the other schools are doing for their debates:

University of Mississippi Presidential Debate (Sept. 26)
Washington University in St. Louis Vice Presidential Debate (Oct. 2)
Hofstra University Presidential Debate (Oct. 15)

(Photo credit: Armando Sanchez/The Tennessean)