MESA, AZ (CBS5) -
The national spotlight will shine on the Valley this week. Arizona is set to play a key role in this year's presidential election.
The four remaining GOP presidential candidates will face off in what is expected to be a heated debate in Mesa Wednesday night.
"I think it's great," said Mesa resident Susan Aspin. "It's really a big deal and we're all excited about it."
The debate will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Mesa Arts Center.
Mesa City Manager Christopher Brady said that they started lobbying to host this debate last summer when it was first announced Arizona would be one of the debate sights.
Mesa beat out Phoenix and Tempe.
"We think Mesa represents that Main Street America where people have been suffering with job loss, economy and foreclosures," said Brady. "There are a lot of elements important to people in Mesa that are reflected across the nation."
The debate will be broadcast live on CNN and will give voters across the country another look at the men who want to be president.
The latest polls indicate none of the candidates can afford a letdown with the Arizona and Michigan primaries on Feb. 28.
The GOP race has become a bit hostile, with candidates stepping up their attack ads.
Arizona Republican Party Chairman Tom Morrissey is hopeful a candidate will emerge in the next couple months. He told CBS-5 that the tough primary campaign will actually help whoever wins out.
"That process is not necessarily a bad thing," said Morrissey. "I believe it will make our candidate stronger and stronger and stronger. Their positions will all have been laid out. We'll know who they are and what they stand for."
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