Between donald trump and hillary diverting our entire program to your calls, tweets and facebook comments. Join the conversation tomorrow beginning at 7 a. M. Eastern here on cspan. Good evening, you are looking at live pictures from Washington University in st. Louis. Hillary clinton and donald trump will faceoff for the second time in the 2016 cycle. Tonight in a town hall style debate. It will become a critical event for the Trump Campaign. Lets take a look inside the debate venue tonight, which looks very different from the. Irst president ial matchup mrs. Clinton and mr. Trump will be in this town hall style which looks like a theater. Thele selected by organization, who are undecided voters will be questioning them. Supporters of the two campaigns will be watching in that theater in the round style. Lets hear more about that. Format also includes two moderators. Anderson cooper a cnn and Martha Raddatz. They are able to ask their own questions, in addition to those from the audience. For the next hour we will take you inside that room or do will talk politics, show you what it is like in there in the lead up to the debate, and learn more about the format. I were first guest of the evening joins us from inside of the debate hall. A senior politics writer u. S. News and world report. Anybody who is watching us on aspan, has been watching Pretty Amazing past two days since fridays leaks of mr. Trump. Watching the punches and counter punches on social media, seeing statements from politicians about their support. What can you tell us that is new as of this afternoon . Think it is safe to say that the Trump Campaign remains in a state of crisis going into this debate. I have spoken to a Trump Campaign aide within the last hour. He described the situation inside the campaign with two words, he said disarray and trepidation. Disarray is republicans who have abandoned donald trump in the last 24 hours. More than a dozen senators, at least for governors have denounced him. You are really seeing the institutional walls for the Republican Party caving in on their own nominee with 30 days remaining. That is problematic, to say the least, for trump. Trepidation on what is next. What kind of donald trump will we see tonight . Will he be remorseful for the things he has said . He be baited by Hillary Clinton into going on the attack and raising some of the issues that her own husband has had in the past. Before these tapes were leaks, trump said he wanted the debate to be focused on issues and policies. He did not want to bring up former president clintons infidelities and own indiscretions that women have lobbed against him. Donald trump is in a completely race. Ent place in this he has people coming at him at all sides. Republicans abandoning him and democrats on the attack. The big question is what donald trump will we see tonight over a 90 minute town hall. A few polls have been conducted. Here is one of them. Itico, the question is should donald trump drop out of the race . Democrats pulls that yes, only 12 of the republicans. You what an interesting situation that creates for that republican in fact icial if how did they maneuver between people in their own party and their need to appeal to those broader votere basis going to the polls . This is something that has dogged republican elected officials throughout this campaign. Every time donald trump said something controversial, you would go to senator kelly ayotte , both facing reelection, how do you respond to this . You denounced this. What we have found is this have been the breaking point for many of the senators. Kelly ayotte repeatedly tries to distance yourself from donald trump. Also, saying that she would has renouncedd him. You have seen other governors and senators walked away from donald trump. You have other senators up for reelection white, senator marco rubio who has denounced trumps comments, but has not gone as far as to say he cannot support him. You are seeing a fault line in the Republican Party. Never have we seen in event in ,his long, unpredictable unwieldy campaign. We have never seen an event were so many republicans have abandoned him. I think there will be some repercussions in some of the Republican Base is more important to that candidate. We know that the representative of nevada said that he could no longer support mr. Trump, and s in that some boo crowd. If you distance yourself from donald trump, you are distancing yourself from his very passionate supporters. Supporters have come out in the thousands to see him speak. If you remain supportive of donald trump, you alienate the , the small sliver that becomes very important in these. Lose races the moderate voters that are distraught and dismayed by his comments. Heard that there will be a telephone call with the members of the House Republican conference tomorrow. Do you know anything more about them all watching the debate tomorrow and discussing strategy . Do we know anymore more about what is to be accomplished . Anything moreow about that specific call. I can tell you that there has been many frantic calls coming out from the Trump Campaign, to members of congress, to senators, to governors to try to keep people on board. They are trying to say watch the debate before you make a final decision. Whats how he handles himself for 90 minutes on a stage with Hillary Clinton before you abandon ship. I know from inside the Trump Campaign, donald trump is getting frustrated with ryan previous, who has abandon a lot shows. He did not appear, that was a sign that he could be abandoning trump and that he is basically giving up on him. They had tough private conversations. He was the chairman of the party. That is very tough to try to win an election 30 days out. There will be a lot of things i have to go on, even after the debate, assuring house members, governors, and every root every republican needs to be ,eassured to stay on the ship as it is really in crisis. I think republicans fear they do not know what else is out there. There have been some reports that there will be more hate of mr. Trump saying worse things. That could make this a very difficult situation, even worse for him. This is hourbyhour for the Trump Campaign on trying to keep people together, trying to stop to affection at all levels. I think that call will be important. It is many calls that they will be having to make to try to keep this thing together. The Clinton Campaign also had his own events with the wiki leaks documents coming out, that suggest she is speaking in one voice publicly and another voice privately in regards to wall street and trade. If this had been at a different time, it may have gotten a little bit more attention. Let me ask you, what does this do in positioning her with the Bernie Sanders supporters . Problemundercuts the that the Bernie Sanders and frankly a lot of americans have had a problem with her, that she says one thing and says another. That she is untrustworthy. Absolutelyeaks differently to a public audience. I think one of the most damaging she said she is for open borders, which is something her campaign had denied. Political political facts not true. It was now we have it any transcript. The Clinton Campaign has not documentsut if these are real or not. They will not confirm the authenticity of these documents, but clearly this is devastating. This will be this would be much more devastating if there were not these trump tapes out there setting up all of the media oxygen. I think Hillary Clinton will have to face questions about the wikileaks disclosure tonight, but her answer may be overwhelmed by whatever donald trump have to say about his own controversy right now, regarding the tapes. Host lets talk for a moment about the format and opportunities for both candidates tonight. Certainly to some degree you can probably predict questions that might come from the panel of reporters. Tonight they will be also facing people in the audience who are able to ask the right questions without coaching. Who is best at this kind of format between the two of them . Providesk it really challenges for both of them. Donald trump really did not do a withf Campaign Events small intimate gatherings. He would not go into the diner and top with people. He would not do oneonone or small group events. He loves the week massive in aes with 10,000 people stadium. That is where he gets his energy, that is what he is best that. This is a new experience for him and it has added pressure given the controversy over the last 48 hours. , it is not her strong suit. Shehas done more of this, has taken questions, but a lot of times they are scripted. They are handpicked from supporters. These will be undecided supporters. Direct toughvery questions about her policy decisions in the past, about her emails, i think some of those same questions could come up tonight. I think her showing empathy, her showing compassion, her showing authenticity is something that will be a challenge for her. There is a different level of pressure on her, and donald trump, given what donald trump has gone through the last 48 hours. I think all eyes will be on what trump says, even more so than Hillary Clinton. Camera inave a live the media filing center, which we have done for each of the debate so far. Often it is customary for people representing the campaign spingates to come out and the news media about their candidates performance. What do you think the room will be like tonight . It is always fun. Remember last time in the debate, donald trump came through the spin room. That is something that usually. Oes not happen president ial candidates go to their corners after the debate, but donald trump walked into the spin room and that was obviously chaotic because you had reporters from all around the world caving in on him immediately. If you does that again, that will be dramatic. Hillary clinton has not done that and is not expected to do that tonight. Ift has high in electricity a candidate walks into the room. Obviously, both campaigns will have their surrogates out there. They will have senators that are supporting them. Prominent democrats and some just and republicans will try to refrain what happens in this room, and try to spin it so that they can frame the stories to be more positive for their site. Writerenior political for u. S. News, thank you so much for starting off our night in st. Louis. Thank you. Little bit learn a more about the format for tonights townhall. Sections. Really two the first is citizens participants closing sections during the first half. These are undecided voters who had been selected iv organization. The moderator will be asking questions in parts of issues trending in social media. Organizations have been soliciting questions on their social media pages for the past several days. That will help to frame some of the trending issues in social media. Candidates will each have two minutes to respond to the question, then the moderator has one additional minute to further facilitate the question. That is what the town hall will look to. Look like. We had an opportunity to take a look at this stage, which it looks very different from the first president ial matchup. You will learn more about how tonight stage was put together. This is your perch, where are we . We are at the production table where all of the production for tonights debate will be managed by the executive producer, his coexecutive producer, our timer, i will be appeared, and over mice sold shouldermy soldier you are looking at the time. Producer will be in there in your years giving them direction about timing. He has a very light hand. He will basically be reminding them of where we are in the progression of the show. This looks like a far more complicated production, how so . There are a lot of moving parts to town meetings. We will have 40 uncommitted voters from the st. Louis area who are here asking questions of the candidates the moderators will also be in question from technology and social media, reflecting peoples deep interest about topics that have not been covered yet. Go to the main stage, what is happening here in terms of communication with the moderators, and trying to make sure you are keeping track of the social media trends. Keeping track be of those here, this is done before the debate. There is nothing in realtime. The moderators have been checking social media and. Ollowing the first debate plus, technologybased research to see what are the topics people are hoping to hear about tonight. A proxy forlogy as the citizens who are not on the stage, they will also be asking questions. This is a way of bringing in a larger group of responses. Lets go down to the main stage. We are here on the main stage, a new look for the commission this year. We have refurbished the set. The eagle remains the same but is out of a different fabric. Everything is much lighter and more technologically advanced. Particularly for High Definition television. It is based on the traditional look, it is a different version of it. We start back there with the eagle and move around to the chairs for the citizen participants. This is a smaller number than we have ever had before. As you can see, they are surrounding the candidates who positions right here. They can move around and they are looking behind us at the two moderators who have their headquarters. A great, intimate feel to it and should make for a hopey interesting, and i somewhat spontaneous examination of the questions that citizens have, as well as the ones the moderators will be asking from social media. No podium, the candidates will have a podium and a bar stool. What can they have on the table . A they can write notes, it is writing surface. Is waterh, there glasses. It is functional and there to give them a writing surface. How does the candidate know where he or she could move . We remember back with george w. Bush. When we do the rehearsal we easy and there is an good shot of them, as opposed to getting the back of their head. Or if they are walking in front of a camera shot. We do that to make sure the candidates are seen clearly and that town meeting persistent prince participants. Cameras this is almost like theater grade you want a lot of cameras so you can make sure you have a clean and unimpeded shot of all of the participants. Two moderators, the candidates and the citizen participants. You make sure that the citizens are not nervous . That they are comfortable russian mark comfortable . They are understandably nervous, i would be. Date we were her sweat they will be doing. They are very generous to do this, but tv is not what these people do on a daily basis. We want to make sure that when they come out they feel very comfortable with the set, how it will work and what will transpire. How they get a microphone, stand up and not have their needs knocking so hard. Anderson cooper and Martha Raddatz will be here. What will they see question mark see . They will be seated they will be looking at the citizens and facilitating the conversation. We havean experiment, not done this before. Especially blending social media and technologybased questions. There is a lot for them to facilitate. I have total confidence that they will figure out how to do this and a way that is really substantive, novel and productive for the home audience. The social media component again, is it what is trending on social media sites . What is trending, we are not using individual questions. It is a good time to understand a macro level. What are the issues people have not heard about yet. It is not about one specific question, it is about what are the things that most people are expressing concerns about the have not been touched on. , oninally, behind the stage debate night tonight, what is it like behindthescenes . Live 90 Minute Program with no commercial breaks. Our Network Partners are focused on having everything as accurate, high quality and. Lexible as we can it is a Real Partnership in every sense. There is a lot of attention and a lot of people on their toes. How does this all feel to you . It always feels exciting. I am so proud of our crew. This is normally an athletic facility. Look around you out what has been built and put together, lot offunctional, a different backup systems and it will be used for an audience that exceeds anything. It is very exciting and i am so honored to be affiliated with the people who made this happen. They are the best, they are the Gold Standard. We have said it before and we are very grateful to be here. Janet brown, thank you. Host that is janet brown who has been the executive director since it was formed in 1987. Very gracious with her time. We are looking at live pictures from within the debate hall in st. Louis. In just a minute you will mean a member of the Debate Commission and learn more about how the format of town hall has changed over the years. First a bit of news that donald trump has held a Surprise Panel broadcast live to facebook. It is just 90 minutes before he begins tonights debate. If there is any direction about which direction he will take in his counterpunch for the last tople of days, that seems give us more indication. We will tell you more about that our previewutes as program continues. Let me introduce you to reverend john jenkins who is a board member of the commission of president ial debates. We are taking quite a lead of the news i have given you with donald trump. He is the president of notre dame university. How many years have you been involved with the Debate Commission . I became in false in 2012 with that cycle, and have been on since that time. Host what can you tell us about how the commission operates and you are a member of a commission that works on formats. How did your committee do its work for tonights townhall . Guest just to correct you i am on the committee that works on the qualifies and who who does not. I do know about the format committee, it is a committee. Let me just say, it is an honor to be on the commission. It is a Remarkable Group of people. People from major parties, third parties, nonpartisan, all , how doed in one thing we present to the American People, a discussion, a debate that will inform their vote . In our challenging times, often polarized times, it is an honor to work with people who are so deep league patriotic and deeply patriotic and concerned about the political process. On that i am not particular committee, we do talk about the format, there is a lot of backandforth about what works and what does not work. What i think the goal of the debate is, is to present the candidates unfiltered, unscripted as far as possible, to present them to the public. In various ways, it in various guises so that the voting public can have as wide as inexperience of the candidates as is possible. Particular, the town hall format allows a different sort of presentation of the candidates. Maybe a more direct encounter with the average voter that we will see tonight. That is how, that is why we see this very obviously the first debate was a little bit more traditional. Questions. Or asked this is different. I hope he gives us another perspective. Chargedth this highly political atmosphere that we are experiencing in 2016, and with , howe of every happening can you assure people that people in the audience are truly undecided voters and do not come with an agenda . The Company Gives us the names of the voters, so they have identified themselves this way. You cannot absolutely assure yourself that the randomness of ae selection does give you good assurance that these people were not placed there by political campaigns or something. We will see. Again, on everything, the public, the viewers will have to decide what they think of the questions any answers. In the first debate, mr. Trump complained about not having an effective microphone in the debate hall, after the fact, the commission put out that there were problems with the audio. Tell me what happened . Did you have an emergency Conference Call to figure out how to handle that . What have you done as a group to ensure that everything is working as it should for the next president ial matchup tonight . Have one answer to that question and it is janet brown and her team. They are among the most responsible and professional groups i have ever met. About the microphone, i do not know the details. I was in the hall, i could not tell any difference. I recorded the debates and cannot tell a difference. I honestly, personally believe it affected the substance of the debate at all. I am sure that they have taken every attempt to make sure technologically, things are sound and will be a good debate. It gave mr. Trump and opportunity to use that as a complaint about why things did not work so well for him. I am sure thats what you want to avoid at all costs. That is right. Campaigns are campaigns. They will take anything they can to try to present their candidate in the best possible light. That is just politics. This, the point of all of is to present this to the viewer, to the voting public and let the voting public decide. Onwill have to decide complaints, on how the presentation went, whether questions were answered in the character and the personality of the candidate. All we do is presented in the best possible way. Host as a college administrator, let me focus on that. Why is it that these debates are held on College Campuses . A second question is, as a college administrator, can you talk a bit about how the Commission Works to maximize the educational values at these events . Rev. Jenkins that is a great question. Two things i would say about the first part. , myselfiversity included is trying to get the name of your university represented and known by the public. Hosting these debates are a great vehicle for that. , literally millions of people watch the debates. The university is associated with an important political event in our country, that is an attraction. Answer the more deeper and more important one is, this is an educational exercise to learn about the issues, to learn about the candidates and that is what universities do. Universities are about educating people. Our most concern is how do we introduce the next generation of voters to the political process and get them engaged and involved. That is something we always have to be concerned about. Putting these debates on a cap this is intentional. It is intentional because we see that as an educational and excess this exercise, and for the next political voters. At notre dame, where i am watchent, we had a debate. We had hundreds and hundreds of students. I was outside on the quad with free food. Buzz about itt and a great engagement. The University President , that is exactly what you want. You want the students engaged and talking about it. For the rest of their lives, they will be engaged voters, responsible voters, voters that want answers to questions. The is the heart of university and at the heart of the purpose of the commission on president ial debate. To make our voting public as educated, as knowledgeable as they can possibly be before they cast that vote or it if we can do that vote. If we can do that, we will have a healthier public. Host he is a member of the Debates Commission. There are about 14 members. Thank you so much for being with cspan this evening. Rev. Jenkins it was a pleasure. About 35 minutes until you will see janet brown, who is the director or its what she will be doing is coming on stage to give the people in the audience a primer on how the event will unfold. This is one of the things you can see only on cspan. We give you an opportunity to be behind the scenes as if you are there in the hall. You will see the insured shims to the audience from the Debates Commission and the two moderators will come out to talk with people in the audience about how the evening will proceed. ,he 40 members of the audience who are the questioners, have been dared throughout the day. They are all local residents of st. Louis and have been getting trapped about how the night will prepped about how the night will unfold. I am sure it their pulses are quickening because it is closer to getting on the stage. It is quite an Important Role for each of the people who will be called on tonight. Let me bring my colleague peter slen into this. Tell us social media, what you can about the Trump Campaign full facebook posting, which give some sense of the direction he will be taken after his own events. Peter about a half an hour ago, donald trump posted a live broadcast on his face but page. There is a political story about that. Withsted a Surprise Panel bill clintons accusers. For women who have accused bill clinton of sexual misconduct. Here is the video. . R. Trump are you ready does your star power allow you to touch other women . Mr. Trump these of very courageous women have asked to be here and it is an honor to help them. They will have an individual statement. We will see you at the debate. I am here to support mr. Trump. I think everybody else should vote for him. At the they should all live in the fact that he is a good person. He is not what other people have been saying he is, like hillary. Think about that. Mr. Trump kathy shelton. I am here to support trump. Through something as a 12 your old. She says she is for women and children. When she was asked last year at what happened, she is laughing on tape. You went through a lot . Yes sir i did. I am here to support donald trump. I tweeted recently and mr. Trump retweeted it, actions speak louder than words. Mr. Trump may have said some bad words, but bill clinton raped me and Hillary Clinton threatened me. I do not think there is any comparison. I am kathleen and i am here to support donald trump. Is, theon for that first day that he announced his presidency, he said, i love this to bey and i want America Great again. I cried when he said that. I think that this is the greatest country in the world. Anything,at we can do we can accomplish anything, we can bring peace to this world and i think donald trump can lead us to that point. Thank you all very much. Why did you say you touch women mr. Trump . Peter that is posted on Donald Trumps facebook page. Cnn is reporting that billy bush has been suspended from the today show. Mark burnett is warning people tapes. Leak apprentice this is in buzz feed news. Because of that, there has been a gofundme page set up to pay legal fees for potential whistleblowers. Meetings town hall between the two candidates, the format desktop townhall format began in 1992. We want to show you some of the highlights and memorable moments from the past townhall debate. How has National Debt personally affected each of your lives . If it has not, how can you honestly find a cure for the economic problems of Common People if you have no experience in what is ailing them . I think the National Debt affects everyone. It has a lot to do with interest rates. How has it affected you . All of the controversy regarding your age, how can you respond to young voices of America Today and tomorrow . I think wisdom comes from age, experience and intelligence. I you have some of each, and have some age, some experience and some intelligence. Can tell you that i dont think senator do all is too old to be president. It is the age of his ideas that i question. I specifically would like to know whether governor bush would support the bill. I would also like to know how you see the differences between the two . The difference is, i can get it done. [laughter] that is what the question of this campaign is about. It is about can you get things done. [laughter] i believe i can. What about the bill . Bush, you have made thousands of decisions that have affected millions of lives. Please give three instances in which you came to realize you had made a wrong decision and what you did to correct it. I have made a lot of ,ecisions, some of them little boards you have never heard of and some of them big. Concludes tonights debate. We want to think our host here we want to think our host here at Belmont University and the commission on president ial debates. You are in my way of my script. [applause] i want to turn to a firsttime voter. Jeremy s epstein has a question for you. As a 20yearold College Graduate i will have little chance to get employment. What can you say to reassure me, but more importantly my parents that i will be able to support myself after i graduate . Jeremy, and thank you for all of you have just to have come. Your question is one that is asked by college kids all over the country. This is in philadelphia and she said, i got my degree, i cannot find a job, i have three parttime jobs. It is just barely enough to pay for my food and they cannot pay back my student loans. Jeremy epstein now joins us on the phone. Had to the chosen to be in the audience . Pull finallyllup undecided voters. They call my house and asked me about what my feelings were about the election at that time, whether i was undecided. I said i was leading leaning toward president obama, but i had an open mind. Peter who helped to form that question . Guest that was me. That fantastically rich in question was all me. The process is, the thin you for question cards and you write down for questions. If you have the opportunity to ask one, you write you ask the one you would want to ask. It was obviously the when i asked about jobs. I wrote one about gun control, the crisis in the middle east. You hand them into the moderator and her producing team. Out of those three or four, they pick the one that if you have the opportunity to ask, that is what you will ask. Peter did you know you would be called on . Guest i did not. They gave us a list of something , they give is our question cards back. From there, after rehearsal we practice the question, but they did not tell you the order. A potential of order of that and i noticed my name was number one. Asked if they would give me any hints. As you can imagine, as a 20yearold in front of an audience of 65 million people, you want a heads up if you will ask a question. They did not give me a heads up. The minute i knew i was officially asking the question said the question was coming from a firsttime voter. Peter were you satisfied, did you find a job . I voted for president obama. In all serious comment you will see with these debates, they do not ask you questions directly, the use the two men opportunity pitchhey are given to their policy. President obama was talking about bringing back manufacturing jobs to jumpstart the economy to help College Students like me get a job. Mitt romney talked about how we he would being bring in telegrams. Got to hear their outlines and plans for the economic future. On the other hand, and you feel like they are just giving you the runaround. Peter did you get a job . Website,s, i work at a it is a subsidiary. I logged games at nfl sports. I work with derek smalls who owns a booking agency. We are working down and South Carolina to run some benefit concerts to raise awareness for domestic violence. That is jeremy s who asked that the first question in the 2012 townhall debate. Tonights debate will not be split screen because it is a town hall. However, if you go to cspan. Org you can watch the split screen. You can also listen on the cspan radio app, cspan. Org if you want to choose how to watch the debate. Host thank you peter. At eight 8 40, janet brown will come out to give the audience their marching orders on how they will proceed as viewers of tonights town hall format. The Debate Commission always insists on people, even though supporters andan supporters watching without expressing their reactions. You will hear all of those instruction to the audience there. We are going to be opening up our phone lines between now and that time. We will ask you if you are in the audience and had an opportunity to ask a question, what would it be . Here is the phone number so you can tell us about that. Is oncretary clinton it the screen. Ityou support donald trump is on the screen. If you are undecided the number is on the screen. Please dial those numbers carefully. You can send us a tweet by using at cspan and debate. We will get to those calls in just a couple of minutes with your questions of what you would ask if you had an opportunity to be a part of tonights town hall. Let me tell you a little bit more about Washington University in south lewis. It is called the Gold Standard because this will be their fifth debate. It was founded in 1853. Total enrollment of just under 15,000 students. To wish and there is just under 50,000 a year. 1992, 2000, and 2004 president ial debates, along with tonights. And the 2008 Vice President of debate. We talk with steve givens who is part of the president ial debate hearing committee. He tells us a little bit about Washington Universitys interest in being part of these historic events. Traditionhave a long beginning back in 1992 when we hosted for the first time. We did that, we did it with one weeks notice. Something was happening at another site and it was not working out. We stepped up to the plate and hit a home run in 1992. With george bush senior, bill clinton in that famous debate. Kept comingng back to them in that cycle and they have been willing to give it to us. I think things of this and the midwest is probably a good location geographically, for a lot of reasons. For travel and political demographic. I think what we hear from the commission is that they like our facility and our people, and the attitude that we bring to this. We do not do this for a living. We are not Commission Planning and meeting planners. For the last six months we were able to pull together and pull off something special. That is the explanation of why Washington University of st. Louis has been long a part of the debates. The commission was founded in 1987 and hosted the first series of debates in the 1988 cycle. Debatese, hosting these and moving this set from venue and all of the production and involved is an expensive proposition. The commission looks to private donations and corporate donations to do that. One company that has been very involved is anheuserbusch. Vice president of Industry Affairs and Government Relations towards anheuserbusch. Has anheuserbusch taken in interest and these debates . Why is it something that your company feels is important to do . Important to been us for decades. He got involved with the commission back in 1996. It is really just about being able to be involved in all of the excitement around the elections. Around me right now there is the kind of excitement as uighur up for tonights debate. It gives us a chance to showcase our iconic american brand, employees in6,000 the u. S. It is about being a part of the americana. It is about being a part of the excitement. Been getting has more exciting. The folks by hind you are reporters hoping to get reaction from the Clinton Campaign to Donald Trumps use of facebook. What is the atmosphere like . It is fantastic. I thought they were on here because the budweiser guy is on cspan. It is getting more excited and that is what it is all about for us. We got involved with the Commission Decades ago. Can go on. It is part of americana and part of being in the excitement. It is gearing up to tonight. I am sure given the seriousness of president ial debate and the desire for it not to look like a commercial operation, there are rules about what a Corporation Like yours can and cannot do. What are some of those sidelines that you operate under desk guidelines that you operate under . A real sete is not of guidelines for us. Develops a comfortable site for all of the folks who are working hard to develop these debates. We take a breath from time to time, we take care of everybodys develops a comfortae for all of the folks who are meals, maybe they have a chance to grab a cold beer. It is just to showcase our iconic brand grade we are surrounded by storytellers here in st. Louis. We feel like we have a lot of Great Stories to tell. It is a perfect space for us to be an. Get your mention you employees involved, in what way . Guest we have 15,000 employees canwork in breweries and manufacturing facilities from coast to coast, they are always excited. The company that they work for and care about to be involved and in the center of the excitement, it is really great for them. We are really fortunate that we are back in washington this year. This is our home town. Again, a chance for us to get together with some of our great partners like wash you. It is just exciting for all of us here in the u. S. And anheuserbusch to be a part of this. You had an opportunity to see what people on television cannot. Is the take away from your observation about how all of this works that someone would be interested in a home . Guest i have been a part of these for several cycles. It is amazing how much effort and professionalism and work goes into producing and putting these things together and pulling them off. It is absolutely unbelievable. It is the super bowl taking place. There is just not as many people at the game. Everyone here is working so hard and it is great to be able to take care of it. Kind of watch from the inside out. For talking to cspan. A bit of a blend from Corporate America sponsorship. Thank you for your time. We will continue looking at live pictures from inside the debate hall at Washington University, w it called. Just heard a lot of familiar faces for those of us in the political world. People from that camp is taking seats. To use that time to watch and listen to you. Ifhave asked the question you were a part of tonights townhall, what question would you like to ask either one of the candidates. Lori is in alabama supporting donald trump. When you get elected president , will you prosecute hillary for the crime she has committed against the United States for her personal monetary gain for the new wikileaks email drop . Host next up, maria. Supporting secretary clinton, what would you ask. I would ask, what message would you use to realize that platform item that you agreed to sanders, regarding trade, education, Social Security and medicare . Host since trade is a big issue for you, what did you think of the new stories of the leaked documents suggesting that she has a different message for wall street that she might for the public . I do not believe that that is really what she meant. I think every politician has a public site and a sensor for their own religious belief that is a private side. I would expect that each candidate and any politician would have a position that is their core, but they also have to abide by what the also whaton says, and the laws are of the land. That is their public persona. I thinklieve that every politician has that. A good politician is one that keeps their private side to themselves when it matters, but matters, because of the constitution that obligates differentl of the religions that are out there, and ious beliefs, basically do not interpret it she was way that actually talking about saying that one thing in front of it. Host thank you maria from corona, california. Liketweets us, she would to when the moderators asked them to take a stand on Social Security, she wants their answers to make sense. You can tweet us at cspan using we willtag debate and learn more about what you would like to ask the candidates if you were in the town hall. Clinton campaign responded to Donald Trumps facebook video. Here is a statement. We are not surprised to see donald trump continue his destructive race to the bottom. Hillary clinton understands the opportunity in this townhall is to talk to voters on stage and in the audience about the issues that matters to them and this does not change that. If donald trump does not see that, that is his loss. As always, she is prepared to handle whatever donald trump throws her way. Calls. Ack to phone check isnt then allen, virginia. Are you undecided are supporting supporting a third party. Do you have a candidate the cycle . Guest not yet. Mike question to mr. Trump my anyonen to mr. Trump is of celebrity status, with a allow that person to treat his granddaughter the way he is treating women . Host thank you. Next is darlene. From california supporting secretary clinton. What would your question be . Guest it would be of donald trump. That his actions he has filedrook, for bankruptcy over three times, he will not disclose his tax reports, why should he be trusted as our president ial leader . Host next up from venice, california is a call from dean supporting donald trump. What would you ask . Yes, i would i guess i keepsask hillary how she in the white house. I just wonder why we get the same people running for president all the time. I would like to see somebody different for a change, rather than the same old people all the time. On twitter, Nicholas Ryan says i would like to ask hillary why she left the secretary of and what her reasoning was behind it . Next up is devin who is in westhampton beach, new york. On our independent line. What would you like to ask the candidates . What i would like to know trump would do to bring down our college debt . To a university and it is crazy expensive. I am paying 60,000 a year and i am getting destroyed in debt. College student worried about college debt. Next up is john in ironton, ohio. A trump supporter. My question would be about the Clinton Foundation and that she had supposedly taken to saudi arabia which mistreats women, and basically the pay to play goes to their foundation. This persontter, says they would like to ask the , hown the candidate would you support or oppose the civil rights of person with psychiatric disability. Is janet in columbus, ohio supporting secretary clinton. Guest my question would be for donald trump. He showed that he is anybody who ist of low income . All he talks about is lower taxes for the rich, and higher taxes for the lower and middle class. He has never responded to that, where clinton has a clear outline of her plans to help us. Host peter what you find on twitter . Lost athis story got little bit a what has been going on the last few days. Wikileaks release of Hillary Clintons text claims, the organization released what is Clinton Campaigns email correspondence revealing excerpts from speeches that she gave. The emails appear to show clinton taking a tone in private that is more favorable to free trade and banks that she often has on the campaign trail. Host this is patrick who says if he had a chance, he would ask trump, how would you plan to reduce carbon emission and combat Global Warming and be specific . Barbara. S a call from let me go first to robert in west virginia. Supporting donald trump. You are on the air. Best my question would not directed towards one it would be towards full. Both. Ards the rate is really high and has always been high in america. My question would be, how with a reform that, because if somebody was to go to prison for a nonviolent crime and come out in the worst situation that they were in, doing the same stuff that they were doing when they first committed that the lenny. That felony what would be their plan of attack on trying to change that susan thank you for your question, robert from west virginia. Wouldp on twitter, lulu like to ask donald trump, one was america so great . When was america so great . Next up is the independent line. Go ahead. I have a quick question. Susan what would it be . My question would be for mr. Trump. The futurehe do for for immigrants in the United States . Susan what do you think the answer should be . How do you feel about our current immigration policy . I think they should definitely do better, and i think it needs to be reformed. Susan thank you for your call from baltimore. Back to twitter. Bernies is the screen name of this person. Toquestion to be would be ask hillary about her open borders and open trade dreams. Next, from texas, supporting secretary clinton. My question would be to donald trump. The would he have to offer United States as far as having any kind of experience in running a country, or knowing whats going on with our country . In our hes a businessman. He should stick to being a businessman, and let hillary, who has 30 years of experience, knowing our problems, and knowing the solutions that will get us going again in our country. Susan thanks for participating. Trump someone for donald tweeted this picture earlier of to and mr. Trump on the way new york, and a photo credit is given to Melania Trump. What they had to say. This decision is perhaps the weightiest decision americans will have to make in a lifetime. Cleveland. Com, unanimous, declaring that donald trump is dangerously unfit to lead the great nation. The members do not feel Hillary Clinton is a great candidate either. They are mostly aligned in their sentiment that clinton has significant and wellknown that abut they fear Trump Presidency threatens our National Security and basic civil values. We have about seven or eight minutes until janet brown comes out to speak to the crowd. We will pick up live coverage from there and follow it all the way until the debate officially begins, shortly after 9 00 eastern time. It is a 90 minute format. The first debate had 84 Million Television viewers. With all the controversy over the last couple of days, it will people interesting to following the media, how Many Americans are tuning in to watch the second matchup between Hillary Clinton and donald trump. There are lots of ways to watch on the internet, including cspan, where you can watch the seete as it happens, and the feed like the television feed, or watch individual cameras, so you can keep an eye on the expressions of the two candidates as they are answering or listening to the answers of the other questions. There are two options. We will be streaming on our facebook page. To our website and equip your favorite exchanges and send them to friends, people you follow on twitter, and others interested in politics. Back to the calls. We are asking you what you would like to ask if you were in the audience, if you were a member of the audience. Amy is in florida, supporting donald trump. What would you ask . I would ask future president donald trump, with the obamacare that has been suffering a lot of mental care people, is he going to continue with obamacare, or what does he continue to do . Susan thank you for your call. On twitter, george says he would bee to ask either candidate, it by raising taxes or cutting spending, do you support always submitting a balanced budget . Next we hear from joel on the other land line. Do you have a candidate . No, i do not. Susan how closely will you be watching to make a decision . We almost have a debate party. We are having chips and dip. Very close. I am extremely unsatisfied with both candidates. I dont know what im going to do. Susan if you had an opportunity to be there, who would you ask a question of . It would be to mrs. Clinton. It is an economic question. Im very confused how her and her husband are worth 100,000, if she has only worked as a senator for nine years in the last 16 years, and as a cabinet member, and he was unemployed, how did they raise 100 million from 20102016 . Susan thank you. How many people are watching from your house . We have right now three, there might be two more coming. Susan thank you for making cspan part of your experience. Next is clara, supporting secretary clinton. I would like to ask mr. Trump, why does he keep accusing the exonerated central park five, exonerated of this crime, and mr. Trump keeps that using these four men, and leaving their lives in shattered, when they have been exonerated . Thank you for your call. Lets watch as the limousine pulls into the secure area and mr. Trump exits. You saw the candidate being accompanied by Melania Trump, ka trump, and her spouse. Youre looking at live coverage he handed scenes from tonights debate. Lets collect a phone calls, asking you what you would ask of the candidate, if you were in the town hall. Next up is cheryl in virginia, a supporter of donald trump. Hi. The trump toto, ask mrs. Clinton, did he put anybodys life in danger by his to anyor cause deaths servicemen as she did in benghazi . Susan thank you. On twitter, johnny says he would ask hillary if she really has a public and private opinion intimates in tonights debate. Lets go back to phone calls. Eric supporting secretary clinton. You are on the air. Hello. Im very concerned about our debt. They talk a lot about the economy, but no one really seems to have a plan. Totally 66 trillion upside down, and all we have to spend is just under 13 trillion. Even if we get all the money to the banking system, we still owe more than 50 trillion. I dont see how we can pay the debt. The leading we can do is it has to be forgiven. Im very concerned about the debt. Susan thank you. Next up is joann in texas supporting donald trump. What would you like to ask in which candidate . I would ask mr. Trump, dr. James dobson has reported recently on fox news that you have recently become a christian. He says you are a baby christian, and have much growing and learning ahead. Can you tell us if this is true, and about how this has affected your life . This is very encouraging that we could have a godfearing man as president. Thank you. Susan thank you. Back to twitter, mackenzie says she is a College Student at ucla, and would like to ask, would you affirm the Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland . If not, who would you nominate, and why . Asking what you would like to ask the candidates tonight. Next up, from portland, maine. What would your question be . I would ask both candidates, given the fact that upwards of 60 of americans are in favor of including third parties in the debate, with they be willing to open the final debate . Why or why not . Susan thank you. Next is miriam in colorado supporting secretary clinton. L yes, i would like to know how you can trust a man that hasnt paid his taxes in 19 , yet claims he has done it , but all of us in the United States have been paying taxes . So we are stupid . Susan thanks. I think you were getting a little feedback from the phone. Phone colors tonight, please mute your volume so we dont get feedback. Next is bob in ohio, on the independent line. What was your question . My question would be why i cannot find an obamacare Insurance Company susan with apologies, i will let you go so we can listen to janet brown of the Debate Commission. My name is janet brown. Im executive director of the commission on president ial debates. I would like to welcome you to the second president ial debate of 2016 here at Washington University, a historic system for this campus, and a treasured homecoming for the commission on to president ial debates. Five days ago, this set and this crew were in farmville, virginia. Everything that you see tonight has been moved here from the Vice President ial debate, set up, tested, rehearsed, beautified, in that short time span. I hope those of you in the audience here at Washington University will look at your programs, and study those names that are listed there in the production crew. In termswithout peer of all the aspects of this extremely confiscated production that will be carried for 90 live, nationally and internationally. The audio, lighting, and Logistical Team that does this are asked to do absolutely extraordinary. There are a lot of people to thank for what has happened here tonight. I would like to start by introducing the cochairman of mccurry andon, mike frank fearon cough. [applause] thank you. Thank you. What a pleasure it is to be here at Washington University. The fifth time we have been here for a debate. It is beginning to feel like a permanent home for the commission. All of you from Washington University and the community, thank you very much. Give yourself a round of applause. [applause] the nonpartisan commission on president ial debates began in 1987 with the leadership of my cochair, who is here tonight, and my predecessor. They did an extraordinary thing. Decided president ial debates ought to be institutionalized and the American People ought to expect they should happen, and that candidates would debate. We have been able to do that with the assistance of 14 members of our commission, distinguished leaders. I would like to introduce them now. We will give them a round of applause at the end. We would like to be joined by the chairman of the Howard Buffett foundation. You are a former United States in missouri. The former anchor at abc by the way, please stand up as a list your name. World newsnchor of with charles gibson, obviously charlie gibson. The president of the university of notre dame, father john jenkins. The former president of the league of women voters, and the current resident of the council on foundations, dorothy writings, and the former the university, go tigers. If you could all stand and give them a round of applause. [applause] one of the things our commission is responsible for doing is designing the format. If you have watched the previous president ial debate, you know this one is different. Since itizen existed participants who have been selected by the gallup organization. They represent citizens in the st. Louis area, and will represent questions for the candidates tonight. The other thing we have done is take time to give the candidates more opportunity to discuss with themselves the important issues that face the country. Rather than having rapid fire questions, we give the candidates the opportunity to have a discussion. That is an important part of the changes we have made. It is important that we dont know, the campaigns dont know, and the candidates dont know what the fellow citizens here are going to ask. We will also have questions incorporated into the debate by our moderators that arrived from social media from places like facebook, our very valued partner, twitter, aol, msn, many other places where we had continued to have conversations as citizens in our new online formats. That will be an important feature of our format tonight. The important thing for all of you who are here, you are here standing in for tens of millions of americans who are able to watch this on television tonight. We ask that you be very careful and respectful of their desire to hear this debate without the interactions of applause, ing,ring, doing, boo anything else. You are here to be respectful of all the other citizens watching the debate, and the candidates participating, and the moderators asking questions. We ask you not use any cell phones, electronic devices. That would be grounds for you to actually be politely asked to leave. We hope you honor those rules that will make it possible for the debate to proceed the way it needs to. With that, i would like to introduce my very dear friend and valued copartner, the other cochair of the commission on , frankntial debates fahrenkopf. Thank you. It is great to be back at this wonderful institution. The commission on president ial debates is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization. We get no funding from the political parties, from the campaigns, from the federal government, state or local government. We ourselves funded. In the 2016 cycle where we are who, wereve sponsors it not for them, we would not be here tonight. They are companies and corporations and individuals, and foundations, who truly believes that the American People ought to be able to see candidates who want to be president or Vice President of the United States, stand before the talented television cameras, and debate issues that are so important. I want to quickly name them. The anheuserbusch corporation, the howard jeep buffett Howard G Buffett foundation, the firm of cruel and lori the aarp, and the National Governors association. Would you join with me and thanking them for their support . [applause] mike talked about social media platforms. Most of us in this room, other than students, who grew up getting the news of the day by reading the newspaper, by reading magazines, and watching the nightly news. That is no longer the case with a very large number of people in our country, particularly the millennials. Mike said we have been working with social media platforms very closely for the last four years. What has happened is going into this debate tonight, Anderson Cooper and Martha Raddatz have received from social network platforms, the views of my form participants as to what they think issues are that are important, and hopefully those issues will be presented in the questions that come from the addition to the questions coming from the ladies and gentlemen behind us. One last point, and i mentioned this into some detail the Vice President ial debate, we are particularly proud of the work we do internationally. The United States of america, with all of our faults, is still the beacon of democracy and freedom around the world. We have been working for the last 20 years with nations around the world, particularly emerging democracies, who are citizens oftonight, the st. Louis area will have the opportunity to ask questions of the next president of the United States. Its amazing. We have worked with those 35 nations, and they have created ds, and are doing work. In las vegas, the next debate, from 45 nations, there will be guests learning how the process is done. We are very proud of that. Let me add one more thing, before i introduce another important person to you. Eastern, we0, 9 00 will be very quiet in this room, except for back there. At exactly 9 00, the networks are going to go hot. You will hear the voices and so forth. You can sit quietly. It will be about three minutes later that we will go live on the debate, and they will stop what they are doing. Owe a lot to we this university, to the faculty, students, and staff. We have been here five times. It is a great pleasure for me to introduce the man who makes the machinery run, the chancellor of this university. [applause] good evening, and welcome to Washington University in st. Louis. It is a real pleasure to be here. I appreciate very much the confidence that has been placed in us by the commission on debates. Ial we had Washington University care deeply about the students experience. This debate has offered the opportunity for many students to learn aboutbe the issues, to be involved in registration. Im proud that more than 3000 students have been registered to vote, and encouraged to participate in this very important election. We had Washington University are involved in education, research, patient care, and community service. Through this work, we are enhancing the quality of life for all. Oured in this era, overarching goal is to enhance our leadership today, to benefit america and the world tomorrow. We are doing this by advancing human health. We have the mere researchers addressing all timers disease alzheimers disease. We have the thirdlargest Cancer Center in the United States. We are advancing work in genetics and genomics to pursue personalized, precision medicine. We are advancing innovation and entrepreneurship. St. Louis, in case you havent noticed, is now one of the startup cities of america. Weally, through our work, are preparing future leaders. Tonight is a debate between two individuals, one of whom will become the next president of the United States. We had Washington University have the very best students, and i am grateful that our Student Union president is here this evening. Reflectingsingapore, a dimension of the diversity we enjoy here at Washington University. Unite welcome the student president. [applause] good evening. Welcome to Washington University in st. Louis. Years ago, this nation was founded on the grand promise, memorialized by president lincoln. America will create a true government of the people, by the people, for the people. Notion has spread like wildfire throughout the world, sometimes raging, but more often smoldering, including in singapore, my home. Today, too many democratic governments are being undermined by those who have a much different vision of the world, of power and response ability to their citizens. This debate provides a momentous occasion to show that while citizens may disagree fervently on issues, they agree it is important to stay engaged in a democratic process, as if lincolns words have any meaning at all. November 8, citizens across this nation will cast their ballot and show the world that democracy is an ideal that burns brightly in the dark. On behalf of the student body, i am proud of Washington University for hosting this debate, and giving voice to the at the call of democracy. Thank you. [applause] would you please welcome president bill clinton and Melania Trump . [applause] a big part of the responsibility for any debate rests on the shoulders of the moderators. We are grateful and honored tonight to have Martha Raddatz of abc news, and Anderson Cooper of cnn. [applause] thank you very much. We are very honored to be here. We want to thank Washington University and st. Louis for hosting this debate, and the commission on president ial debates for sponsoring this. This is obviously a town hall format tonight, a chance for americans on this stage, and thousands of people who have sent in questions online, to ask questions to the candidates. Martha after they asked questions, they have promised to remain silent. I know you have heard this, but no booing, outbursts, or tearing of any time. We want to keep this focused on askingdidates and people questions. We appreciate all your cooperation in advance, and we will start shortly. Great to see you all