Vegas, Baby: Republican Armies March Toward Political Battle of the Century
Posted on | October 12, 2011 | 32 Comments
From: NVDebate (NVDebate@cnn.com)
To: r.s.mccain@att.net;
Date: Wed, October 12, 2011 2:53:06 PMSubject: RE: CREDENTIALS REQUEST – NEVADA DEBATE
Hi Robert,
You have been issued credentials. Please note:
The credential will grant journalists access to the press filing center and media spin room, which will be located in Hall G of the Sands Expo and Convention Center.
###
Jennifer A. Scoggins
CNN Washington
My flight is already booked, departing Monday from Dulles International via LAX to Vegas. After last night’s debate in New Hampshire, this CNN debate in Las Vegas is sure to be a pivotal event in the 2012 presidential campaign. Via Memeorandum, a few headlines:
After another bad debate, is Rick Perry finished?
— Byron York, Washington Examiner
Mitt Romney builds case for inevitability
— Jonathan Martin, Politico
Cain leads nationally
— Tom Jensen, Public Policy Polling
Ashton Kutcher’s Alleged Mistress
Reveals Details of One-Night Stand
— Tim Nudd, People magazine
Maybe that last headline isn’t quite so obviously relevant, from a strictly political perspective. But you see the basic point: The fate of a nation hangs in the balance as this critical Las Vegas debate looms ahead.
This is the crucial moment — indeed, possibly a turning point in American history — and we’ll be reporting live from the scene, war correspondents at the GOP’s Political Armageddon.
There may be updates to this post, but no Urgent Breaking News today could possibly be more urgent than The Five Most Important Words in the English Language: “Hit the freaking tip jar!”
UPDATE: Just got this press release from CNN:
Western States, Issues Take Center
Stage for CNN, WRLC Debate
Anderson Cooper to Moderate the Oct. 18 Face-off
among Eight Presidential Contenders in Las Vegas
CNN anchor Anderson Cooper will moderate the Tuesday, Oct. 18 debate presented by CNN and the Western Republican Leadership Conference (WRLC). The debate, which will air live from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. (ET), will be broadcast from The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas , Nevada . Voters from the 16 states and territories that make up the Western region of the United States will be in the audience and will have an opportunity to pose questions directly to the candidates. Nevada will be one of the first states to vote in the Republican presidential primary process in 2012, as chosen by the Republican National Committee.
The following eight presidential contenders will participate in the debate: Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, businessman Herman Cain, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum.
CNN’s live and on-location coverage surrounding the debate will begin with CNN Newsroom on Saturday, Oct. 15 and continue through American Morning on Wednesday, Oct. 19. Programming from Las Vegas will include anchors Anderson Cooper, Wolf Blitzer, Erin Burnett, John King, T.J. Holmes, and Carol Costello. CNN political contributors and analysts also on hand in Las Vegas will include Gloria Borger, Ron Brownstein, Alex Castellanos, Ari Fleischer, David Gergen and Mary Matalin. . . .
Great Balls of Fire: Gloria Freaking Borger!
You know this debate is going to be a world-historical event, if CNN is dispatching the internationally esteemed Gloria Borger to lead their legions of “political contributors and analysts” to Las Vegas.
We must have Total Coverage! Final Wisdom! Hit the freaking tip jar!