3 things you didn't know about CNN's debate at Drake University

It's the day of a CNN presidential debate at Drake University and one star already was on set.

Griff II, Drake University’s bulldog and live mascot, donned an American flag tie while members of the media swarmed him for photos as he sat on the shiny debate stage floor inside Sheslow Auditorium.

He’ll be there all night as CNN readies to goes live at 8 p.m. for a Republican presidential primary debate. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley will attend the debate, held just five days before the Iowa Caucuses.

More: What to know about tonight's Republican presidential primary debate ahead of Iowa Caucuses

“Anytime we can get Griff around the media is good for Drake University,” said Erin Bell, associate director of marketing. “Everything about Griff is positive so it reflects positively on the university and it just kind of lightens the tension a little bit. He’s very approachable and friendly. He is our best ambassador for Drake. So we’re just welcoming all the media from all over the world to campus. So, there’s nobody better to do that than Griff.”

The Des Moines Register visited the set as part of a media walkthrough and stage preview Wednesday morning.

The auditorium inside Old Main, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was transformed to accommodate a glossy debate stage and the scene-setting language audience members and viewers at home will see directly behind the candidates: CNN Republican Presidential Debate.

Facing the debate stage are two chairs and a desk for moderators and CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, and elsewhere in the room are cameras, lights, and numerous other technical equipment.

“A debate is really a rare opportunity and tonight I think is particularly significant because it’s the first opportunity in this campaign cycle to have Gov. DeSantis and Gov. Haley on stage, just the two of them, together,” said Sam Feist, CNN’s Washington bureau chief.

More: How to watch GOP debate between DeSantis and Haley on CNN, Trump town hall with Fox News

He added that it’ll be different from any of the previous debates and an “important night” as the Iowa Caucuses near.

CNN has prepared for this debate since the Democratic presidential debate held at Drake University in 2020, said Alexa Bennewitz, senior director of special events at CNN during the media tour. Her team began working on this debate “fully” at the beginning of December.

“This is the kind of large-scale event at CNN that touches almost every department of the company,” she said.

Here are three things to know about the production of this CNN debate.

More: The fight for 2nd place takes center stage at Republican debate in Iowa: What we're watching

Drake University students were involved

More than 50 student runners worked with CNN, Bennewitz said. “They get to see themselves in those positions,” Rachel Paine Caufield, co-chair of the political science department, told the Des Moines Register in an interview in early January. Bennewitz said at Wednesday’s media tour that this is both the first time for many students to see a production on this scale and to be able to vote.

Tear down begins the day after the debate

Starting Jan. 11, crews will begin to restore Sheslow Auditorium back to its original state. That includes reinstalling the 195 seats that were removed from the auditorium’s floor to accomodate a larger debate stage and cameras.

There will be just over 200 people in the audience

Mark Preston, vice president of political and special events programming, told members of the media Wednesday that the audience is comprised of individuals from civic organizations, guests of Drake University, and guests of the candidates' campaigns. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Casey DeSantis, first lady of Florida and DeSantis' wife, will be sat next to each other, if evident by their names written on sheets of paper and attached to seats in the auditorium.

Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Des Moines Register. Reach her at PBarraza@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Peek inside CNN's GOP presidential debate set at Drake University