Will anyone remember what they said come November 08?

South Carolina State University becomes the national political stage today, hosting the first debate among Democratic Party candidates for president of the United States.

The event gives the Orangeburg campus once-in-a-lifetime exposure from dawn to evening on NBC’s family of networks. It has also provided the campus with a few fix-ups - from new plants to new seamless network of wireless Internet access.

The campus was a beehive of activity Wednesday, as gardeners put finishing touches on the grounds, electricians tested every light to ensure the bulbs were good and students acted as stand-ins for Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards for television technicians to adjust lights on the stage.

State Democratic Party Chairman Joe Erwin said corporate sponsors have contributed $500,000 to cover expenses and make permanent improvements at the historically black college.

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