Tonight's presidential debate will be one of the first times the candidates are brought face to face in a public forum and many predict it will go a long way in deciding the final outcome of the election.
Both the Republicans and Democrats on campus agree that the debate offers an important venue to sway undecided voters. But, naturally, expectations diverge as to which camp will be more convincing tonight.
The first debate between the candidates will be held tonight at 9 p.m. at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla.
"For Kerry, his biggest problem is that people aren't sure where he stands," Co-President of Wharton Politics and Public Policy Club Jeremiah Radandt said, adding that Kerry has to answer the question of what exactly he would do differently in Iraq. "A win for [Kerry] is for him to clearly articulate his vision for Iraq."
While for Bush, Radandt said, it is important to stay with advocating a steady message. "Where [Bush] is most worried is -- 'Is there a curve-ball that Kerry can throw him that can throw him off-balance?'"
Radandt does not believe that there are as many swing voters this year as there have been in previous elections, but he still believes these debates will have an impact on the outcome in November.
Republicans on campus say that they see the debate as an opportunity for the undecided voters to see Kerry's lack of a coherent position.
"Based on the number of positions on important issues, like the Iraq war, Kerry can hold the debate with himself," Chairman of the statewide Pennsylvania College Republicans and Wharton senior David Copley said, echoing a crack Bush himself made earlier this week.
Penn Democrats President and College senior Rich Eisenberg said that in order for the debate to be a success for the Kerry campaign, Kerry has to make clear where he stands on main issues.
"The best-case scenario tomorrow night is John Kerry simply goes out and is himself," Penn Democrats Political Outreach Chair and College junior Daniel De Rosa said, "because his policies are the ones that people really respond to."
De Rosa was optimistic about Kerry's ability to convince the undecided voters that his stance on issues like environment, the economy, the war on terror and the Iraq war are in fact the ones that will most benefit the country.
But Republicans say that this debate is a test for Kerry, because he "hasn't been taking questions from the media for a couple of months," Copley said.
In recent days, both campaigns have gone out of their way to praise their opponents for their previous debating track records. Some see this as an attempt to raise the expectations.
"George W. Bush is known to be a pretty good debater," Eisenberg said. "We certainly don't expect it to be a cake walk."
De Rosa agreed, adding that "the Kerry campaign has come to the realization that if you go into the debate underestimating George W. Bush, you will lose."
Two more presidential debates will take place before the Nov. 2 election: Oct. 8 at Washington University and Oct. 13 at Arizona State University.
Tomorrow night, the Penn Democrats are gathering in Logan Hall to watch the event. Vanessa Kerry, the daughter of John Kerry, is scheduled to make an appearance beforehand. The College Republicans are meeting in the upper lobby of Harnwell College House.
