Debate Audience Selection Process - Can It Be Rigged? Why Tennessee?

[Median Democrat]

Here is an article discussing the selection process for tonight's townhall:

http://www.newschannel5.com/global/story.asp?s=9133141

However, I have seen some newspapers counseling that the way to get onto the audience is to act as though you do not know anything if called by Gallup.

Also, why did the Obama campaign agree to a debate in Tennessee? Tennessee is a very red state, that even went for Bush against Gore, its former Senator. Bush beat Kerry by +14.3, and McCain is currently leading in the state by +15.7.

In other words, the audience is likely to be hostile to Obama and the Democrats. Of the four debates, only one debate site is in a blue state, the last one at Hofstra.

So, you have McCain in his favorite debate format, a townhall, in a State that is overwhelmingly red. I think there is a reason why even McCain's campaign is playing up expectations, rather than lowering them. Because, this is about as easy a debate scenario that they could come up with.

[ContinentalOp]

1. They should do it the other way around.

You should have to pass a test to get into the audience to show that you have at least a basic grasp of what the hell is going on. If you believe for example that Saddam was behind 9/11 or that we found WMDs in Iraq, you should be barred from entering the town hall.

[TNDemo]

2. But Nashville is very blue.

If they draw out of the local populace, then the likelihood is greater for it to lean to the left.

[TennesseeDem]

6. Agreed with Nashville being blue

Davidson County has a whole, votes Dem every election. And while this may not make a difference, the Belmont/Vanderbilt area is the most lib in Nashville.

[AllentownJake]

3. Harold Ford almost won a senate race there

If Mississipi can behave I'm sure TN can.

[iceman66]

4. Not to mention a moderator who has barely concealed his support for McCain.

Obama definitely has an uphill battle, but I expect he will do just fine.

[demo dutch]

5. The setting of this debate really worries me, at this private VERY Christian Conservative Belmont U.