It was a history-making moment in Richmond -- a dozen high school students volunteering to spend their Friday night watching the presidential debates.

Students from several city schools gathered in the School Board's 17th-floor conference room at City Hall to view the debates in a program arranged by Richmond Public Schools. Shortly before the debates began, they discussed with interim school Superintendent Yvonne Brandon what they wanted to see in the candidates.

"They're extremely excited about the election -- it's a historic event for them," Brandon said.

Elise Sale, an international baccalaureate student at Thomas Jefferson High School, was looking for a candidate who had a sound foreign policy. Eight years ago, she thought Arizona Sen. John McCain was the best candidate for president, but the Republican nod that year went to George W. Bush.

Sale, now 18, voted in the Democratic primary for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York. But now she is sold on the Democratic nominee, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois.

Sale was in Bosnia over the summer and marveled at the interest Bosnians showed in Obama.

"I think they are both good men," Sale said about the two candidates. "I think Obama is the better candidate because McCain seems very out of touch."

Jorrell Watkins is a sophomore at the Open High School. Although he is disappointed that he can't vote in the upcoming election, he's a lot more interested in the issues than he had been previously.

"I'm thinking Obama has a great speaking style -- poise," Watkins said. "He's flowing."

Contact Linda Dunham at (804) 775-8126 or ldunham@timesdispatch.com