Below is the credentialing information for the upcoming Florida Decision 2008 Republican Presidential Candidate Debate to be held at Florida Atlantic University's Carole and Barry Kaye Auditorium in Boca Raton on Thursday, January 24 from 9:00 to 11:00 p.m EST.

The debate will be produced by NBC News and broadcast live on MSNBC and Florida Public Television from 9:00 to 11:00 p.m. The debate will also will be streamed live over the web on MSNBC.com and NBC News 2 Go, and will air live on Florida Public Radio.  Florida Public Broadcasting is also producing a special program – Florida Decision 2008: The Primary — which will focus on Florida issues and will air live from the debate site at FAU from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m., immediately prior to the Republican debate. Other debate sponsors include AARP and Environmental Defense.

This will be the only Florida Republican presidential candidates debate held in 2008, coming just five days before Florida’s January 29th Presidential Primary.

HOTELS
January is the high season in South Florida and we strongly advise that you make your hotel reservations as soon as possible. Below are some nearby hotels:

Renaissance Boca Raton Hotel
2000 NW 19th Street
Boca Raton, FL 33431
561-368-5252
(2.10 miles away/10 minute drive)

Holiday Inn Express Boca Raton
8144 Glades Road
Boca Raton, FL 33434
888-465-4329
(2.10 miles away/10 minute drive)

Hilton Suites Boca Raton
7920 Glades Road
Boca Raton, FL 33434
561-483-3600
(4.32 miles/ 15 minutes drive)

Embassy Suites Hotel in Boca Raton
661 NW 53rd Street
Boca Raton, FL 33487
561-994-8200
(4.91 miles away /15 minute drive)

DETAILS ABOUT COVERING THE DEBATE
Working members of the media wishing to cover the debate on January 24th must be credentialed. Media credentials will be required to gain access to the Media Filing Center (Grand Palm Room) and the Spin Room (Live Oak Pavilion). Media stand-up positions will be located both outside the Spin Room facing the theatre and inside the Spin Room. Please note that media credentials do not provide access to the theatre — the site of the debate. The debate will be broadcast on large monitors in the Media Filing Center for working journalists to watch.

The credential application must be completed in order to request:
• Media credentials
• Work space in the Media Filing Center
• Stand-up positions in the Spin Room
• Live shot positions outside the theatre
• Phone lines
• Space for satellite trucks

DEADLINE FOR CREDENTIAL APPLICATIONS:
6 P.M. EST Friday, January 11, 2008.

CREDENTIAL APPROVAL PROCESS
& MEDIA LOGISTICS CALL
You will be informed by Thursday, January 17 if your credential application has been approved. Once credentials have been granted, debate organizers will hold a media logistics call at 2:00 p.m., Friday January 18 and a debate site survey for broadcast media on Tuesday January 22 from 1:00 to 2:00 PM.

CREDENTIAL DISTRIBUTION
Credentials for approved media will be distributed at the Florida Atlantic University Media Filing Center from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 23, and starting again at 8 a.m. on Thursday, January 24. Leadership Florida will provide food for credentialed media on the day of the debate in the Media Filing Center, and Florida Atlantic University is hosting a media dinner prior to the debate.

CELL PHONE COVERAGE
There is good cellular coverage at FAU and onsite at the debate facility.

INTERNET WIRED AND WIRELESS SERVICE
Free wireless Internet service will be provided to journalists in the Media Filing Center and Spin Room. Wired Ethernet orders must be made directly to SoapboxSBX, and will entail a set-up fee. Please e-mail requests directly to Jim Jiranek at Jim@SoapboxSBX.com or fax request to (717) 854-7839. For further information, call Jim Jiranek at (717) 817-2370.

NOTE: Deadline for wired Ethernet orders is Friday January 11, 2008. 

PHONE ORDERS
Orders for hard line phones must be made directly to SoapboxSBX.  There will be a charge for phone lines, and there will be an additional charge for an actual phone handset, if that is requested.  All phone orders must be placed by a news organization directly with SoapboxSBX.  Please e-mail requests directly to Jim Jiranek at Jim@SoapboxSBX.com or fax it to (717) 854-7839. For further information, call Jim Jiranek at (717) 817-2370.

REMINDER – DEADLINE FOR PHONE AND ETHERNET ORDERS IS FRIDAY, JANUARY 11. 

QUESTIONS
Please direct all inquiries to Sara Bennett at Leadership Florida, mediarelations@beforeyouvote.org.