Months of planning for just 90 minutes. Then it was done. An hour and a half that put Nashville in the spotlight and gave a small school a big reputation.

I have to admit, a lot of the fun in covering the debate was the time before the actual event. It was a thrill to see the planning and logistics that went into putting on such a grand event. It was heartening to see an entire community come together to put on an exchange that showcases the democracy we live in. It was an honor to be able to know the countless volunteers who gave of themselves to make this debate happen.

As for the debate itself, I watched it in the media tent along with 300 other reporters. Nothing novel was exposed. Both candidates held to their platforms and didn't stray. No verbal brawls. It was a safe debate. Nonetheless, one of the largest television audiences of the year orginated from home turf.

After the debate, the spin. While there were great hopes the political surrogates would say something shocking or cutting edge, again, everyone stuck to their party line. For a political junkie though, the media tent was the place to be. Governor Mitt Romney, Senator Claire McCaskill, Senator Fred Thompson, Representative Harold Ford Junior, David Axelrod, Linda Douglas, the list goes on and on.

While this debate was benign in the political process, it will serve as a moment for me. I'll always remember where I was during the 2008 Presidential Debate.