Kirk A. Bado

kbado@tennessean.com

Belmont University announced Wednesday in an email to students and staff that they were named first alternative host for one of four presidential or vice presidential debates this fall.

In the email to students and staff, university President Bob Fisher said he had a conversation last week with the Commission on Presidential Debates concerning Belmont filling in the alternative role. The move comes after Wright State withdrew from hosting and first alternative Hofstra University assumed the hosting responsibilities.

"While I sincerely hope that all goes as planned at the selected sites, we will work diligently to be prepared in the outside chance we're called on," Fisher said in the email.

Belmont hosted then Senators Barack Obama and John McCain for the 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate. Since then, Belmont has applied to host debates in 2012 and 2016. In 2016, Belmont was one of 16 sites nationwide under consideration to serve as hosts. The commission previously passed on the university for this election cycle.

The university is already planning civic-centered programming for the fall semester under the banner #BruinVote16. Programs include voter registration drives and debate watch parties.

“It would be an honor for Belmont University and the city of Nashville to once again host a Presidential or Vice Presidential debate,” said Nashville Mayor Megan Barry in a statement.

The first presidential debate is scheduled for Sept. 26 at Hofstra State, followed by Washington University and the University of Nevada-Las Vegas on Oct. 9 and 19 for the remaining presidential debates. The vice presidential debate is slated for Oct. 4.