DANVILLE — Not many people were listening to the speeches being given at Speakers Park on the Centre College campus Thursday afternoon before the start of the vice-presidential debate. The designated “free speech” zone attracted about a dozen organizations who used the opportunity to promote their causes to whomever would listen, mostly only a few dozen at any given time.

 By contrast, hundreds gathered at the Festival Park, only 200 yards away on the other side of campus but an eight block walk around the heavily guarded and cordoned off security area, to listen to live music and watch the taping of prominent network newscasts.

The groups trying to get their word out took the low turnout in stride, however.

“The people who are interested enough to come out and participate are the people who get passionate about issues. If you can reach those folks, you can build your supporters. These aren’t folks who are sitting at home doing nothing, these are folks who are excited about politics,” said Ken C. Moellmon Jr., Libertarian Party Chairman for Kentucky’s Fourth Congressional District.

Moellmon said he “wasn’t surprised” that Speakers Park was far removed from the festival and hard to find. “What I really think is funny is the cage and the gates,” he said, motioning to the fenced in area, which had a sizeable police presence at the entrance. “It’s like that we’re dangerous and we have to be kept in, but it is what it is. I enjoy the opportunity.”

Kentuckians for the Commonwealth Secretary Dana Beasley-Brown of Bowling Green had spent much of her day at the Festival Park trying to draw a crowd, including a few more of the estimated 3,400 members of the media that had descended on Danville to her speech about social injustice and poverty.

“There could have been space to have something like this over at the festival,” she said. “It’s great they did include a spot for people to come share their thoughts but it would be better if everyone could have a better chance of listening and hearing.”

The low turnout wasn’t only bad for groups trying to get out their messages, but a variety of local booster clubs trying to raise money. John Ferguson, co-president of the Danville Marching Band, said the group had expected to feed a crowd of thousands instead it had raised just a few hundred bucks by late afternoon.

Chad Holderman of Danville, along with his wife, Angie, and two daughters, Morgan and Lauren, were among the handful of curious spectators who made the trek to listen that were not affiliated with any of the speakers.

“I expected there to be more people here,” said Chad Holderman. “We wanted them to see what it means to be a democratic society, why we vote. Why it is important to know our politicians, who we are voting into office,” he said motioning to his daughters.

“We came here to show some of the issues that confront our local officials.”

A few minutes later, the family packed up to make their way back to the festival.