National spotlight on Delaware debate

Debate between Republican Christine O’Donnell and Democrat Chris Coons draws media to the University of Delaware.

The national media have descended upon the tiny state of Delaware in anticipation of Wednesday night’s debate between Republican Senate hopeful Christine O’Donnell and Democrat Chris Coons at the University of Delaware.

CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, who will moderate the debate, and his ilk have created a lively scene, said Jason Mycoff, an associate professor of political science and international relations at the University of Delaware.

“This week the national attention has certainly ratcheted up and it has become a little bit of a circus out there on College Avenue,” said Mycoff. “When I walk out of Smith Hall, Mitchell Hall is right across the street, and there is a large CNN Express bus lined up there in the parking lot. There are a number of camera crews walking around scouting the area.”

Polls show Coons leading O’Donnell by double digits.

Mycoff said he’s been following Delaware politics since he moved to the First State eight years.

“Before that, like many around the country, Delaware being a very small state, it didn’t have much of a national foothold in most of the elections,” he said. “So I really didn’t pay all that much attention to it before I arrived here.”

WHYY-TV will air the debate at 7:30 tonight.