OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI

If Obama does have a townhall for 90-minutes, as indicated in this article, maybe C-SPAN will carry it--they cover live campaign events all the time and then next time McCain speaks, cover him.

A community waits, hopes


From NBC's Domenico Montanaro


OXFORD, Miss. -- The atmosphere on the Ole Miss campus is one of enthusiasm -- and a bit of anxiety -- for a debate a state has hoped and planned for for a year and a half, since the school applied to have it.

Republican Gov. Haley Barbour today called for the debate to go on. The state newspaper was filled with editorials and op-eds urging McCain to show up.

The Republican nominee may have thrown a wrench into the plans, but in the debate hall here, workers are drilling the final screws into the debate set; lights are being checked; podiums are being measured; the last of the set's panels are being put up and wires being weaved. Outside, security checkpoints are in place, network TV camera stands are built and set. (And never mind those hotel reservations and flight plans.)

"The debate will go on," University of Mississippi Vice Chancellor Gloria Kellum told NBC's local affiliate, adding, "We've spent two years working on this."

Advance teams from both campaigns have completed walk throughs, the local affiliate reported citing university officials, adding that if McCain doesn't show, there will be a 90-minute town hall with Obama taking questions from the audience.

In this proud town, on this university campus, residents, students and school officials want the debate to go on. And everything's in place.

McCain, tonight, told NBC's Brian Williams on Nightly News he is "hopeful" he will be at the debate.

An entire town and state sure hopes so.