For RVNA’s President and CEO Theresa Santoro, tonight’s Republican Presidential Debate is more about family than it is about politics. “Maria and I have been best friends from day one,” says Santoro.
Maria is Maria Bartiromo, Fox Business News editor and anchor of Mornings with Maria who will co-moderate the prime-time debate along with Fox’s Neil Cavuto and WSJ’s Editor-in-Chief Gerard Baker.
Not only are Santoro and Bartiromo besties, spending most weekends together, they are sisters. “We shared a bedroom for 20 years in our parents house,” explains Santoro.
The youngest of three children of Vincent and Josephine Bartiromo, Maria Bartiromo grew up in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn where she was affectionately nicknamed, "the bullet" by the kids in her Brooklyn neighborhood. “She was the fastest in games and sports,” recalls big sis Santoro.
According to Santoro, Maria has been preparing for tonight’s debate for weeks “by writing questions and discussion-points that get down to real issues domestically and overseas”. “She's looking for solid answers that will address issues important to the average American,” she says.
While Bartiromo is well versed as a Presidential debate moderator (she has moderated several in the past), Santoro says that tonight’s debate is an exceptionally important one given the state of today's economy and the slate of candidates.
Viewers can expect a fact finding, respectful debate that will get to the heart of the matters at hand. “People want to know- how will the candidates' plans affect them and their families? Many questions will be centered around the view and concern of the American people,” says Santoro.
Santoro explains that for well over 20 years, Bartiromo has specialized in reporting on the state of the global economy and was the very first journalist to report live from the New York Stock Exchange. “She is well prepared and experienced to focus on the economy during this debate. It's a perfect fit. She will get the candidates to answer her questions.”
The debate will begin at 9PM/ET and be presented live from the Milwaukee Theatre in Milwaukee, WI, on the FOX Business Channel.
“I will be watching tonight at her house in NYC along with her husband and our family- we're her greatest fans. We're so very proud of her,” says Santoro.
For post-debate coverage, tune into Mornings with Maria at 6:00 am on Wednesday, November 11 to watch Bartiromo anchor her show live from the Milwaukee Theatre.