TotT is a daily rundown of campaign events, compiled by Katie Rooney.
The Republican presidential candidates face off at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi, California tonight for the first Republican debate this campaign season. No one wants to turn down a personal invitation from Mrs. Reagan herself, so you’ll hear from the whole lot of them: former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, California Rep. Duncan Hunter, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Arizona Sen. John McCain, former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore and Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback. The debate – broadcast by MSNBC and streamed on the Politico’s Web site where viewers can submit questions online – kicks off at 5 p.m. Pacific time.
Interesting side note – former Republican senator from Tennessee and Law & Order star Fred Thompson, speculated as a potential candidate, won’t be part of this debate but he’s keeping himself close by. He’ll speak tomorrow night not too far away at the annual dinner for the Lincoln Club of Orange County, an influential conservative group.
Here’s where some of the Democratic candidates will be today:
*New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) will be in Baton Rouge, La. delivering the keynote address at 12:30 p.m. to the National Council of Black Mayors for their annual convention.
*Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) will be in Iowa the next couple of days. Today he’ll attend the 21st Century Democrats Luncheon in Des Moines at noon.
*Former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) hosts a community meeting at Plumbers and Pipefitters Hall in Tucson, Arizona at 4:30 p.m.
*Sen. Barack Obama‘ (D-IL) will spend the day in D.C. on Capitol Hill but tonight he’ll head out to New York City where the word is he’s holding four private fundraisers tonight through Friday.
-Katie Rooney