Inside CNN’s Spin Room – where journalists served as a ‘live audience’ for the debate

Just hours before the historic presidential debate began Thursday night, a nervous energy began building in CNN’s Spin Room.

Gradually, journalists from around the world flocked to Georgia Tech’s McCamish Pavilion, some carrying large equipment — cameras, microphones, tripods — while others simply carried laptops or phones.

Around the mezzanine, anxious fingers tapped away at keyboards as some of the reporting teams discussed strategy for the main event – ​​which sources they hoped to secure and what pressing questions they would ask them.

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Tables had been arranged in rows atop the arena seats, demarcated by numbers and letters, each assigned to different publications, filled with extension cords and water bottles.

In the hour before the debate began, dozens of additional reporters flooded into the room, took their seats and began writing furiously, bracing for whatever heinous gaffes President Joe Biden and the president might make. former President Donald Trump.