Stage Set For Democratic Presidential Debate

Stage Set For Democratic Presidential Debate-Final preparations are under way as Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama get set to battle it out at the National Constitution Center.
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This is the first time the candidates have faced off in two months, and it's their only face-to-face meeting before the crucial Pennsylvania primary on April 22.
There was a lot of excitement for the debate. Hundreds of supporters for the candidates outside the Constitution Center knew that what happens Wednesday night could determine what happens on Tuesday, NBC 10's Kristen Welker reported.
"When I say madam, you say president. Madam," shouted one Clinton supporter, to which others responded, "President," then repeated a second time.
Anticipation was peaking as voters and the world prepared to watch the candidates square off.
"It's a kind of controlled chaos. There's Secret Service doing their sweeps, and there's all of the logistics of having 700 reporters here from around the country and the world," said Joseph Torsella, CEO of the National Constitution Center.
Media outlets and their trucks could be seen for what seemed like miles as they set up outside and inside the center, getting ready to record a piece of history.
"I've covered a lot of major events, but nothing is like the presidential election. It's like the Oscars," said Brazilian newspaper reporter Sergio Davila.
But the award in this contest could be the presidency.
A lot has happened since Clinton and Obama last debated since February. Both candidates have made mistakes and blunders.
Supporters, however, said it's the issues, like health care and the war, they want the candidates to address, and those supporters put their best faces forward Wednesday.
"Hillary in the house," shouted Clinton supporter Helen Gonzales, donning a full-head mask of the candidate.
"Helen, you're taking your support to a while new level?" Welker asked her.
"I love it. I love it, yeah," Gonzales replied.
"Anyone who was passionate about Barack Obama before, they're at that same level, probably even higher," said Teri McClain, an Obama supporter from Seattle, Wash.
Kevin Williams even wrote a song for his candidate, Obama, and played it for Welker on a headset.
Everyone outside the center was waiting to hear the words that could shape the future of this race.
"It's going to be very fiery. It's going to have people sweating," Williams said.
The debate begins at 8 p.m. and will last for 90 minutes.
NBC 10 was told that there would be about 500 people in the audience, including supporters of both candidates and folks affiliated with the National Constitution Center.

Stage Set For Democratic Presidential Debate