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Jessica Hetterich Click to enlarge

HAMILTON — Jessica Hetterich slapped a "Belmont University: Debate '08" bumper sticker on her car in February, thrilled that her school would have the chance to host a presidential debate.

The 20-year-old Hamilton woman thought she would be one of the millions of people watching a television Tuesday night, Oct. 7, as the presidential candidates squared off at the Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. in a town hall-style debate.

Until Monday night, the Badin High School graduate and Belmont junior had no idea that she would be one of nearly 500 people in the audience watching Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama.

"I got a phone call from Belmont and I thought I was in trouble," she said. "They were like, 'Hi! You've been selected to go to the debate. Can you be here tomorrow by 4?' And I was like, 'Yes I can!'"

Hetterich said she pre-registered via e-mail last month for a lottery offering about 80 tickets for the debate, which was not open to the general public. She was picked 144th out of the more than 1,000 people vying for a spot.

Those who scored tickets were asked to leave their cameras and mobile phones at home and arrive at the Curb Event Center via shuttle four hours before the debate with photo identification and, if necessary, a small purse.

Hetterich, a public relations major and music business minor, said she hoped to hear the candidates' plans for stem cell research, researching new alternative fuels and taking care of the environment.

"I've always thought that was important because if we can't take care of the Earth, then what's the point of trying to take care of anything else?" she said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5126 or eschwartzberg@coxohio.com.