Drexel hosted the Democrats. Initial reaction by most: “How?” Penn certainly would have priority if it were between us and Drexel to host an MSNBC primetime Democratic debate.

And Penn did.

The issue? The Commission on Presidential Debates “dropped a deal-breaking bomb: Penn would have to close eight city blocks, between 34th and 38th streets and Spruce and Walnut streets. And not just on the day of the debate - but on the three days preceding it as well.” Too much for HUP at 34th and Spruce, which must remain open.

Thus, Drexel won the debate location.

When media celebrities and seven Democratic presidential contenders descended upon Drexel, they should’ve stopped at Penn. And why didn’t they? Watching debate commentary and analysis by Chris Matthews, Howard Fineman, and Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC, you’d be surprised at the Penn connections.

Here:

- Andrea Mitchell, Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent for NBC News, graduated from Penn with a degree in English Literature. She is a member of the Board of Trustees.

- Chris Matthews hosted three live editions of Hardball yesterday – 5, 7, and 11 p.m. – from the Drexel Quad. He also spoke at Drexel, not Penn. What a letdown. I’ll let him slide because his newest book is hot and his daughter just entered as part of the class of 2011.

- Howard Fineman may have received a degree from Columbia, but his daughter, Meredith, studies here at Penn.

- What’s more? Senator Joe Biden — a Democratic presidential candidate — should’ve stopped by Houston or Huntsman to say “Hi” and comment on foreign policy, at the very least. After all, he was proud enough of his daughter’s attendance to Penn to mention it in front of the Senate. His son, Beau Biden, Delaware’s Attourney General, also graduated from Penn.

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