Voters in Silicon Valley will watch with interest Wednesday night as the first of three televised presidential debates takes place before a national audience.
President Barack Obama and challenger Mitt Romney will square off against each other on a Denver stage, beginning at 6 p.m. PDT.
Tuesday, each man stayed in seclusion, prepping with campaign staffers, anticipating expected questions and laying out strategy. Romney was already in Denver, Obama spent the day in Henderson, NV.
YouTube announced Monday that it has partnered with ABC News to livestream the Presidential and Vice-Presidential debates. And according to the Washington Post, "two of YouTube’s election partners—BuzzFeed and Phil DeFranco—will be providing timely updates and inspiring the Internet’s meme hoards to create funny video clips and animated GIFs."
At the Obama campaign office in Mountain View, the only campaign office for the party between San Jose and San Francisco, people can drop by as early as 3 p.m. to volunteer on the phone and then watch the debate.
According campaign fellow Tristan Killeen, an astute 18-year-old from Los Gatos who starts at UC Berkeley this fall, there may be a chance that Vice President Joe Biden will live stream a message to the observers. Killen added that if the viewing parties they had for the Democratic National Convention were any indication, they will have an overflow crowd and may have to set up a projector in the parking lot.
The campaign office is located at 1411 W. El Camino Real, next to Le Petit Bistro and El Paso Restaurants. Details: 650-794-4067.
Santa Clara County Democrats will host two parties locally, 6-7:30 p.m. in San Jose at their headquarters, 25 North 14th St., and in Menlo Park from 5 p.m. on in their Volunteer Center, 350 El Camino Real, next to Tesla Motors.
Steve Preminger, chairman of the Santa Clara County Democratic Central Committee, said tonight, and for the rest of the presidential debates, the Dems are inviting the public to watch the candidates "put forth a vision for America that will move our country forward—for all Americans. President Obama will share specific points as to what he sees happening over the next four years, including helping create manufacturing jobs, doubling our exports, cutting oil imports in half and reducing the deficit in a way that protects the middle class."
In Burlingame, the San Mateo County Republican Party hosts a party at its headquarters, 875 Mahler Rd., Suite 120, at 5:30 p.m. RSVP to SMGOP Executive Director Deyan Banerjee at 408-359-7715.
No parties are scheduled for Republicans in Santa Clara County, according to their website.
On Thursday, Oct. 11, the only scheduled vice-presidential debate will take place in Danville, KY.
The two remaining presidential debates will be held Oct. 16 in Hempstead, NY and Oct. 22 in Boca Raton, FL.
Will you watch the presidential debate? Where will you watch it? Are you waiting to choose a candidate until after the debates?
