Hardball A2 should host presidential debate When you think of hotbeds of political activity in Michigan, what's the first place that comes to mind? Albion? Albion College officials hope state Republican leaders see it that way and hold a primary election debate at their institution. But we are left asking, if Albion thinks they can do it, why doesn't the University of Michigan? Vice President for Government Relations Cynthia Wilbanks told the Daily in Monday's issue that the University "did not have the types of facilities in close proximity to each other." That's a weak excuse. This campus has every imaginable space for debates and speeches - from Rackham Amphitheater to Hill Auditorium to Crisler Arena. Given Ann Arbor's urban atmosphere, most arenas and auditoriums are close to each other. Students often have 10 minutes to walk across campus between classes. Central Campus is hardly a sprawling mass of land - and even parking could be manageable with proper planning. Beyond land concerns, the University would be the ideal fit for either a primary or general presidential election debate because it is the center of many political battles. The living wage, marijuana legalization and affirmative action are only a few of the fiercely debated issues on campus and around town. We don't think the same is true for Albion. It is more important than ever to have an informed electorate in Michigan. It is a swing state - with a Republican governor, one Republican and one Democratic U.S. senator and a Democratic attorney general. Unlike some conservative states of the South and liberal states of the Northeast, Michigan's electoral outcomes are hard to predict. And with earlier primary elections, this state will play a key role in determining our presidential nominees. So why would we want to hold all our debates in the middle of nowhere? While Calvin College served as a forum for the residents of Grand Rapids, we believe debates must take place in Metro Detroit, the state's most populous region. Ann Arbor is the perfect Detroit-area location, with the state's flagship university and a long political history. While it has often been characterized as a liberal oasis, Ann Arbor is hardly more left-wing than Grand Rapids is right-wing. It is in the interests of both Republicans and Democrats to debate in Ann Arbor, because they can appeal to the large number of politically interested yet moderate voters in the area. A debate in Ann Arbor would best serve all candidates. They would join the ranks of Hillary Clinton, Jesse Jackson and Kofi Annan, all of whom recently spoke in the city. There is no good reason why the University of Michigan - with its abundant facilities and politically-minded campus, should not host a presidential debate. Originally on page 4A in the 1-26-2000 issue of the Daily.