Former First Lady Nancy Reagan announced Monday that the first debate of the 2012 Republican primary contest will be held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, Calif., on May 2, 2011.
The debate was announced in November but no date was given until Monday. It will be co-hosted by NBC News’ Brian Williams and POLITICO’s John F. Harris and will air on cable channels MSNBC, CNBC and Telemundo. It will also be livestreamed on Politico’s website.
A Telemundo reporter will join WIlliams and Harris in asking questions.
The Reagan Presidential Library was also the scene of the first Republican debate of the 2008 cycle, which took place on May 3, 2007. POLITICO and NBC News hosted that debate as well. The library also hosted a second debate during the 2008 primary season on January 30, 2008.
“We have established a wonderful tradition – of which I know Ronnie would be so proud – of using the Library as a first-in-the-nation forum for candidates to introduce themselves and their visions for America to a national audience,” Nancy Reagan said in a press release announcing the date.
Although the “invisible primary” is well underway, no Republicans have officially announced their candidacies yet, with the exception of Herman Cain — a Tea Party star, talk radio host and former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza — who is a long-shot candidate.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty have made it clear they plan to run by hiring staffers and assembling national networks.
The list of prospective candidates who are thought to be weighing bids is long and includes former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin; Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels; South Dakota Sen. John Thune; former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee; former House Speaker Newt Gingrich; Indiana Congressman Mike Pence; Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour; former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum; and Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
Romney, Huckabee and Palin have all led in various national polls at this early stage with Romney generally being given the status of presumed frontrunner. Over the weekend, Romney won a straw poll among activists in his neighboring state of New Hampshire with 35 percent of the vote, well ahead of his nearest competitor.