The Democratic presidential candidates will face off in Center City tonight - but Fox News pollster and Penn alumnus Frank Luntz will bring the excitement of the debate to campus.
As Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama debate at the National Constitution Center in this primary season's 21st Democratic debate, Luntz will conduct focus groups at Penn that will air on Fox tonight.
Luntz, who graduated from Penn in 1984 and taught at the University from 1989 to 1994, said he has wanted to conduct focus groups at Penn for a long time.
"College kids are deeply involved in this election and are responsible for Obama's showing," Luntz said. "I wanted Penn to be part of that story."
Luntz will conduct two separate focus groups. One will revolve around student interaction with Gov. Ed Rendell, where Democrats, Independents and Republicans will talk with Rendell, then share their opinions.
The second focus group, which will consist solely of undecided Democrats, will begin shortly before the debate begins. Participants will then watch the entirety of the debate and share their thoughts afterward.
Some segments filmed at Penn will be aired tonight, while others will air later this week and over the weekend.
Luntz stressed the importance of tonight's debate for Pennsylvania's April 22 primary, saying the state is crucial for the Clinton campaign.
"This is Sen. Clinton's last stand," Luntz said. "She has to win and she has to win convincingly for her to remain in the race - that's why she's putting every ounce of energy into it and why I think the debate is going to be so exciting."
Luntz added that he thinks Clinton will attempt to differentiate herself from Obama, stressing "the two E's: experience and electability."
Obama, on the other hand, will be "focused on the four M's: message, momentum, movement and money."
According to NCC spokeswoman Ashley Berke, the NCC is preparing for the hundreds of people attending the debate, as well as the 600 to 800 members of the media who will be at the NCC to cover the debate.
"We've been working closely with the Secret Service and our security to prepare," she said.
Tonight's debate, which will be moderated by ABC News anchors Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos, will air on ABC at 8 p.m.
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