The University of Notre Dame announced Monday that it will retire as the host site for the first of the 2020 presidential debates, scheduled for September 29.
“[T]He limits the coronavirus pandemic that occurred at the event, as understandable and necessary as they are, they have led us to withdraw, “the university president, the Rev. John I. Jenkins, said in a letter to the Notre Dame community.
He said that after consulting with a county health official, he had made “this difficult decision because the necessary health precautions would have greatly diminished the educational value of organizing the debate on our campus.” Jenkins added, “The inevitable reduction in student attendance in the discussion room, volunteer opportunities, and supplemental educational events undermined the primary benefit of hosting: providing our students with a significant opportunity to participate in the American political process. “
In a press release, the Presidential Debates Commission announced that Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic will now host the debate in two months, which will take place at the Health Education Campus in Cleveland. The Commission recruited the Cleveland Clinic earlier this year to serve as a health security advisor in all four presidential clashes.
According to a statement, the Cleveland Clinic will work with the Samson Pavilion to reduce the size of the audience, create distance between seats, and implement disinfection measures, depending on the number of victims of the pandemic in Cleveland.
Last month, the University of Michigan Withdrew of hosting the second presidential debate. That debate, on October 15, will now take place at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami. The third debate will be Oct. 22 at Belmont University in Nashville. The vice presidential debate is scheduled for October 7 at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.
The commission has stated that it will continue with current plans to organize the four debates “in cooperation with federal agencies” and will continue “to monitor and evaluate developments related to public health and safety.”
The September event will be the second presidential debate organized by Case Western Reserve University. In 2004, the Ohio school hosted the vice presidential debate. Although this would have been the first Notre Dame presidential debate, the Catholic institution has hosted six presidents at graduation ceremonies over the years, more than any other university except the military academies.
The Presidential Debates Commission, of which Jenkins is a member of the board, is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization and has sponsored all presidential and vice-presidential general election debates since 1988.
in a CBS News poll released SundayThe president has a slight one-point advantage in Ohio, where he won by a comfortable margin four years ago. Ohio serves as a critical part of the President’s path to securing the 270 electoral votes necessary to win re-election in November.
.
