Digital City

Political campaigning has often been called a sport given the competitive atmosphere, endurance and the adversity that the competitors face. There's also the general spectacle of it all.

Election '08 is proving to be the Super Bowl, Stanley Cup, NBA Finals, World Series, Triple Crown, NCAA Final Four, UFC, The Masters, U.S. Open and NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup all rolled into one long, grueling match.

Folks are even crowding into bars and restaurants across the country for debate watching parties transforming average sports bars from drink tanks into think tanks. Typical bar noises from big screen TVs and standard jukebox fare are replaced with talking heads and an amped hush erupting into cheers and jeers when candidates make a point or a mistake. There are even drinking games that can be played. (Editor's Note: It is not recommended to drink every time Senator Obama says 'Change' or 'Hope' during a debate for risk of alcohol-related hospitalization.)

The number and size of the debate parties planned this year are unprecedented with the most anticipated debate being the one-and-only Vice Presidential contest between Governor Sarah Palin and Senator Joe Biden. People are expecting a train wreck with Senator Biden expected to easily defeat America's Favorite Hockey Mom. Her performances in recent media interviews and intense media scrutiny have Republicans nervous and there was talk last week of canceling the debate.

The story lines are developing for an exciting night of reality television and oh yeah, hopefully we can learn something about the candidates.

Where's the Party?
There are literally hundreds of public parties planned throughout the U.S.. We've gone through the announcements and highlighted some of the most promising parties below. If you know of any other big parties, you can leave a comment below with the event details.

The debate starts at 8PM CDT with most venues kicking off the festivities at 6PM CDT. Plan on getting there as early as possible to get a good seat, or a seat at all. Given the nature of the restaurant and bar business, it's recommended you call ahead to confirm the event, time, admission and any other relevant info. You can click on the links below for venue contact info.

VP Debate Watching Parties by City

Atlanta, Ga. - Dave & Buster's (Marietta) | Verve Lounge
Atlanta, Ga. - Octane Coffee Bar & Lounge
Baltimore, Md. - Red Star
Bloomington, Ind. - Cinemat
Boston, Mass. - Hong Kong (Cambridge)
Chicago, Ill. - M Lounge | Holiday Club
Cincinnati, Ohio - Crowley's Irish Pub
Cleveland, Ohio - PJ McIntyres Irish Pub
Columbus, Ohio - Studio 35 Cinema
Dallas, Texas - Amsterdam Bar | Angelika Film Center
Denver, Colo. - The Berkshire | Skylark Lounge
Hartford, Conn. - Mayor Mike's Restaurant
Little Rock, Ark. - West End Smokehouse
Los Angeles, Calif. - Isla Cantina | V Lounge
Louisville, Ky. - Ray's Monkey House
Miami, Fla. - Lucky Strike Lanes
Nasvhille, Tenn. - Limelight
New York City - Room Service | Latin Quarter | Pacific Standard | More Parties
Oakland, Calif. - Conga Lounge
Orlando, Fla. - Loaded Hog
Philadelphia, Pa. - The Artful Dodger
Pittsburgh, Pa. - Max's Allegheny Tavern
Portland, Maine - Empire Dine & Dance
Portland, Ore. - Kelly's Olympian | Living Room Theater
San Antonio, Texas - Rock Bottom Tattoo Bar
San Francisco, Ca. - Via Veneto
Seattle, Wash. - Finn MacCool's
St. Louis, Mo. - Chaifetz Arena (Official Palin Rally)
Tulsa, Ok. - Circle Cinema
Virginia Beach, Va. - AJ Gators
Wilmington, Del. - Tijuana Taco Shop

For more parties, check out the events section at the official sites for Senator McCain and Senator Obama. If you know of any big parties we missed, leave a comment below.