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Holding a dart blindfolded, stand in front of a map of Europe. Now throw the dart.

Odds are that a member of the media from that place will be in Orangeburg this week.

"You could randomly hit a country and chances are media from that country will be here," said Patrick Norton, communications director for the South Carolina Democratic Party. "We are expecting 500 members of the media."

Norton said approximately 450 media credentials have been approved and, with some late requests, that number should swell to about 500.

In addition to the many national media sources expected, Norton said they have fielded requests from places like Asia, South America, the United Kingdom and Australia.

A big part of organizing the debate has been making accommodations for the media. South Carolina State University has partnered with AT&T to technologically transform the Student Center into a state-of-the-art media center. On debate day, the building will contain a myriad of media from all genres -- print, television, radio, Internet -- working from as early as 5:30 a.m. to as late as 2 a.m. the next day. Print reporters will be busy writing on laptops, broadcast journalists will conduct live interviews and bloggers will be blogging.

Cable wire will lace the hallways and sidewalks from satellite trucks. News of the debate will be told in many languages that day as the campus will house a true media melting pot.

The debate couldn't go on without the media presence, Norton said.

"It's been a major part of the success of the debate and other Path to the Presidency events," he said. "It's a chance to show the world South Carolina, Orangeburg and S.C. State and the positive things we are about and the Democratic Party are about."

The Times and Democrat is the host of the media reception Thursday afternoon, just prior to the Democratic Party presidential debate at S.C. State.

"During a meeting several weeks ago with Valerie Dinkins, debate co-chair, and Doug Dent, debate consultant, I was pleased to agree to sponsor the reception for the visiting media who will be in Orangeburg covering the debate," said Cathy Hughes, T&D publisher.

"The food service vendor at South Carolina State, Sodexho, is preparing the food. We hope the menu we've selected will give the out-of-town media a true taste of Orangeburg: chopped and pulled pork with mustard-based barbecue sauce, corn on the cob, peach cobbler and sweet tea are just a few of the dishes that will be on the buffet."

The reception will be held on the courtyard of the Fine Arts Building on campus and will allow journalists a respite during the busy day in store.

"As the local daily newspaper located just blocks from this historic presidential debate, it seemed only logical that The Times and Democrat would serve as the host to the national and worldwide media here to cover the debate," Hughes said. "I am happy to partner with South Carolina State University on this historic occasion. And we plan to provide a welcome to the media on behalf of all in The T&D Region."

Charlene Slaughter can be reached by e-mail at cslaughter@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5529. Discuss this and other stories online at TheT&D.com.

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