Hofstra University

A pamphlet advertising the “National Center for Suburban Studies” was among the souvenirs Hofstra University distributed to reporters covering the final 2008 presidential debate between Barack Obama and John McCain on Oct. 15. The pamphlet’s back cover consisted of green-tinted cars commuting in heavy traffic. Travelers attending the debate from the city encountered a sign on the Northern State Parkway that read “Pres Debate at Hofstra U. Expect Delays.”

The most eventful and dramatic presidential campaign in living memory had its last confrontation in a part of the world known mostly for its traffic problems.

“It is odd when events like this come to Long Island,” said Dee Snider, a Long Island native and the former frontman of Twisted Sister.  read more »

Hofstra University on Long Island is going to host a presidential debate on October 15, 2008, according to a knowledgeable source.

It seems only fair to have a debate in New York, since we've contributed at least two viable candidates to the race.

I'm just hoping Larry Levy gets to play Tim Russert.

The official announcement should be coming out soon.  read more »

Chuck Schumer wants to see a presidential debate at Hofstra. The Nassau-based school applied to host one of the presidentail debates recently which, if successful, might bring Hillary Clinton or Rudy Giuliani back to debate in front of their home crowd.

In letters to the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Howard Dean, and the Commission on Presidential Debates, Schumer said:

Hofstra University is one of only two candidates in the Northeast. In fact, New York has not hosted a debate since 1960 when John F. Kennedy and then Vice-President Richard M. Nixon met in a Manhattan television studio.

The letters are after the jump.  read more »

-- Azi Paybarah

Hofstra University is New York's only hope for playing host to a 2008 presidential debate.

Of the 19 formal applications sent to the Commission on Presidential Debates from around the country, only one, according to a statement sent out by the Long Island university, will give Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani the chance to play on their home field.

Hofstra is proposing its David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex as the venue for the debate.

UPDATE: Political consultant Joseph Mercurio isn't sold on the idea of a presidential debate on Long Island:

"It's a more affluent, more educated, more conservative version of New York City," he said, "but it's no Iowa."

--Jason Horowitz

Tonight, Tuesday, NARAL will hold an event at Hofstra directed at the eight state senators in Long Island that voted against over the counter morning after pills.

Tomorrow, NYC DOT reviews designs for--to the relief of Starbucks chains citywide--public toilets!

Then, activists and community leaders from the tri-state area will gather at 32BJ headquarters to discuss the importance of renewing key provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, just before the Department of Homeland Security answers questions at a poorly named NYU panel discussion (pdf).

And Stonewall Dems hold their monthly meeting at the LGBT Center featuring Richard Brodsky, George Arzt, Jonathan Tasini, and David Cohen, candidate for Civil Court.

—Nicole Brydson