Lots Happening Inside and Outside as Iowa Debate Begins

As the first major GOP debate in the state kicked off tonight, all eyes were on Iowa, and Patch was dispatched across the state covering the sights and sounds.

Beginning at 8 p.m. at Drake University’s Sheslow Auditorium in Des Moines, this was the first nationally shown GOP debate on network television. The debate was hosted by ABC News, the Des Moines Register, WOI-TV, Yahoo! and the Republican Party of Iowa.

Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, Texas Congressman Ron Paul, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney were in attendance to give voters a glimpse of their platforms with the days dwindling to the Jan. 3 caucuses. Other candidates, including former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, failed to qualify due to a lack of support in Iowa.

ABC News anchors Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos are moderating the debate. The Register’s political writers will provide some of the questions.

Supporters Pack into Debate Hall

The packed auditorium seats 683 people, and about 200 media personnel requested credentials to cover the debate. Tickets to the debate were sold out earlier this week, some caucus-goers shelling out up to $1,500 to attend.

Kent Pearson, 62 of Clive, hurried through the metal detectors into Sheslow Auditorium.

"I think we're suppose to be in our seats already," he said.

Pearson chose to attend the debate as a graduate of Drake.

"I'm definitely looking forward to hearing from Newt and Mitt," he said. "Newt has really exceeded our expectations in these debates."

In the most recent Des Moines Register Iowa Poll, which surveys likely caucus-goers, Gingrich surged to the front of the pack in Iowa with support from 25, followed by Paul at 18 percent and the slipping former Iowa front-runner Romney in third with 16 percent. One time Iowa darling Bachmann had support from 8 percent in the poll, and Perry and Santorum were tied with 6 percent.

Inside the Media Room

Two blocks from the debate hall, media personnel from across the country are set up in the Knapp Center gymnasium. Approximately 26 rows of tables are filling with journalists who are covering the GOP debate.

Two large projection screens are positioned in front of the rows of tables, and individual monitors are scattered throughout the working crowd. 

Event organizers obviously wanted to ensure media personnel were taken care of, as several tables of refreshments are set up alongside the work area. There’s even a popcorn stand offering free samples of flavors ranging from butter to caramel to jalapeno garlic.

Debates Hard to Avoid for Drake Students

Outside, political signs and swarms of debate goers are hard to miss.

Several Drake University students took a break from studying for finals Saturday night to check out the excitement surrounding the GOP presidential debates.

Freshmen Krystle Thai, of California, Danielle Klocke of Coon Rapids, IA and Halli Meyer of Bettendorf, IA, stood outside Sheslow Auditorium before the debate started.

"We were just on the way to the library and decided to check it out," Meyer said.

While none of the students are politically active or have decided to caucus come January, they agreed hosting the debate at Drake was an advantage. The students planned to watch the debate online, between studying.

"It's really interesting," Thai said. "It's really exciting.

Occupy Protestors Gather Outside

Ringmaster Danielle Ryun led the and chanted from 5:30 p.m to 7 p.m. up and down the sidewalks of University Avenue in front of Drake University, where the first major GOP presidential debate is scheduled to take at 8 p.m.

Gathering about 50 Occupiers together for the march, Ryun told them to stay on the public sidewalks, stay off Drake property and "most important, have fun." Police had warned the protestors they could be come on university property, Ryun had told Patch.

Carrying balloon bouquets, horns, the protestors had fun with their "characters".

"I think we should stop shooting Occupiers with rubber bullets," said Jessica Reznicek, got into character as Ann Coulter of Fox News. "And start shooting them with real bullets."

9/11 Conspiracy Theorists Reach Out to Debate Goers

Sean Michalek, 65, of Victor, and Dennis Scar, 62 of Earlham, were spreading "the truth" to anyone who would listen outside the debate hall Saturday.

Passing out pamphlets and standing by a large sign on University Avenue, the men were willing to talk to anyone who would like to hear their message. The two men represent Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth.

"We have 1,600 professional architects and engineers," Michalek said. "We're trying to wake people up to what happened ... We're asking for a real investigation, a real criminal investigation, because there were murders."

While the group isn't political they hope to open the eyes of the government to their plight.

 

Around campus and around the state, young and old are tuning in at watch parties.

A small group of about 10 people have taken a seat in the sofas around the big screen to watch the debate at in North Ames.

Most of them say they are strong Ron Paul supporters and couldn't be easily swayed to support another candidate. Travis Harvey, 34, Nevada, said he supports Paul but likes all the candidates except for Romney.

Harvey said he's watched all debates and hopes that Paul has more camera time than past debates.

With one down, there will be more time for everybody, he said. 

The debate is being televised on ABC stations nationwide and a live stream will be available at DesMoinesRegister.com. The Iowa Patch.com sites will live blog from the debate, too.

This story was reported by Ashlee Kieler, Anne Carothers-Kay, Megan VerHelst, Scott Raynor, Jessica Miller, Alison Gowans, Stephen Schmidt and Beth Dalbey.