TAMPA, Fla. — Republican presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Rick Perry will stand at podiums next to each other at tonight’s tea party debate, a CNN executive said.
The two frontrunners have been sparring recently over Social Security, an argument that will likely continue during Monday night’s debate here at the Florida State Fairgrounds.
The Daily Caller took a tour of the debate hall Monday afternoon. CNN Washington bureau chief Sam Feist said Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, and Perry, the governor of Texas, will both stand at podiums at the center of the stage.
Eight candidates are participating in the debate. Former Utah. Gov. Jon Huntsman, businessman Herman Cain and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann will stand at podiums to Romney’s right.
Texas Rep. Ron Paul, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum will stand to Perry’s left.
Feist on Monday said the debate, also sponsored by the group Tea Party Express, came out of discussions between CNN and the group’s chairwoman, Amy Kremer, last December.
The large red, white and blue set is similar to the one used in New Hampshire earlier this summer. (RELATED: GOP candidates to face tea party questions in Monday’s debate)
On either side of the hall are two large monitors, which Feist said are measured at 26 feet by 16 feet. One monitor will be used to show a running feed of commentary on the debate from viewers using social media.
Another monitor will show debate-watching parties of three tea party groups in Virginia, Arizona and Ohio. Activists in those groups will ask questions during the debate, Feist said.
Responding to a question from a reporter, Feist said CNN is committed to providing equal time to all the candidates on the stage, and not just the front-runners.