Erin McPike, one of the National Journal/NBC reporters embedded with presidential campaigns this year, is in St. Petersburg, Fla., for tonight's CNN/YouTube debate. Here is a report from her:
Debate line-up, left to right: Tom Tancredo, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson, John McCain, Ron Paul and Duncan Hunter.
The first row of the auditorium is reserved for the Romney family, followed in the second by the Giuliani family. The third row of seats is split by the Huckabee family and the McCain family. The Thompson family, however, will be back in the fifth row -- behind the Paul family in the fourth row.
CNN Washington Bureau Chief David Bohrman said that about 5,000 questions were submitted, and that they have "a different feel" than those submitted for the Democratic debate in July. He also said that despite the big production made about Florida Gov. Charlie Crist submitting a question, high-profile figures get plenty of access as it is, and his question will not be included.
A committee including Anderson Cooper finalized the question line-up Monday night. Cooper intends to ask about 40 questions, and the network will have 70 ready to go.
Although Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was a big focus of the Fox News debate among Republicans last month, Bohrman said: "I would expect that she'll come up far less than the last one. This debate is for the Republicans. They have to debate each other first before they can get to her."
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