NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Gov. Phil Bredesen and Nashville Mayor Karl Dean say they're excited about the international attention the city will get as a result of having the next presidential debate at Belmont University.

The city, long used to celebrity, was getting ready Monday to welcome an influx of political bigwigs.

Belmont Provost Dan McAlexander said Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama were to arrive sometime Tuesday for the debate that night.

The candidates agreed to three debates, the first was at the University of Mississippi last month, then at Belmont and Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., on Oct. 15.

It's the first time Tennessee has hosted a presidential debate.

McAlexander agreed with Bredesen and Dean that the event will be an opportunity to showcase Nashville. He said the city contributed $250,000 to the nearly $3 million it is costing to host the debate.