New Orleans bids for presidential debate

NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- The city of New Orleans is applying to host one of the three presidential debates scheduled to take place after the primary next year.

Leaders of the effort to bring one of the debates to the Big Easy said it could be an important part of the city's renaissance after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, The Washington Times reported Monday.

"This is very important to the city of New Orleans," said Anne Milling, founder of Women of the Storm, a New Orleans non-profit group that's spearheading the city's bid to host a debate. "A presidential debate would ignite our tourist industry and show the country, and the world, that we're open."

Janet Brown, executive director of the non-partisan and non-profit Commission on Presidential Debates said the debate locations will be chosen in November from a list of 16 applicants.

"We're a master at putting on large events, so the city itself can handle something like this," Milling said. "It's our bread and butter."