Tagged: Vice Presidential Debate

Even though the candidates for vice president met at Centre College in Danville for their debate Thursday night, Kentucky issues such as coal and the auto industry weren’t heavily addressed.

Kentucky is affected by many of the national issues that were discussed, but Vice President Joe Biden and Congressman Paul Ryan had little to say on topics specific to the commonwealth, such as coal and the auto industry.

U.S. Senator Rand Paul says Congressman Paul Ryan doesn’t have much pressure on him to win tonight’s vice presidential debate.

The debate, held at Centre College in Danville, will have Ryan facing off with Vice President Joe Biden.

After Republican nominee Mitt Romney rejuvenated his campaign in the first debate, some pundits have said the pressure is on Ryan to continue the momentum. But Senator Paul says Ryan should do just fine.

Politicians aren't the only ones looking for a debate-related boost when Joe Biden and Paul Ryan go toe-to-toe in Kentucky this week. All of Danville is hoping to benefit from the vice presidential debate Thursday.

Streets have been repaved, flowers planted and new signs erected around the central Kentucky town of about 16,000. One bar is prepping cocktails named for Ryan and Biden while stores have stocked up on politically themed merchandise.

As Centre College prepares to host next month's vice presidential debate, several groups want to prepare Kentucky students for the event.

The Secretary of State and the non-profit Kentucky Youth Advocates have partnered with students from Bellarmine University to create lesson plans for Kentucky teachers. The lessons focus on basic civics and include information on political debates.

This year's vice presidential debate at Centre College is shaping up to be a policy wonk's dream. 

Both Vice President Joe Biden and newly-minted Republican VP candidate Paul Ryan are longtime lawmakers who are steeped in policy. 

“I think it will be a substantive debate, meaning that these are both serious policymakers and they both have substantial voting records and careers to discuss, even though Congressman Ryan is relatively young at 42, he’s been in Congressman since January 1999,” says University of Louisville professor Jasmine Farrier.