Rock The Vote is dropping by the Winston-Salem, N.C., campus’ Joel Coliseum Complex to liven things up with Hootie & The Blowfish, Rah Diggah, and Daniel Cage – interrupted only briefly by a screening of the debate.

The face-off between the major-party presidential candidates is taking place a mile or so away at the University’s Wait Chapel.

The Rock The Vote event, of course, is non-partisan. But if you’re a Gore supporter and want to party down with your man, the Squirrel Nut Zippers have accepted an invitation to perform at the Democratic Party nominee’s post-debate soiree. The exact location hasn’t been decided yet, but the information is promised soon at the Zippers’ Web site.

You might need to be a campaign contributor, volunteer or at least a Democrat to score a ducat to the Gore/Zippers gig, while the Rock The Vote party looks to be more inclusive.

Organizers have extended invitations not just to the Bush and Gore campaigns, but also to third-party candidates Ralph Nader, Harry Browne, John Hagelin and Pat Buchanan.

They are preparing for a crowd of more than 10,000 – which may not be an overstatement, given that four Nader rallies have each drawn between 10,000 and 20,000 in recent weeks.

Yahoo.com will provide a live Web cast of the event and “Loud Lounge,” a political talk show featuring young celebrities and political activists who will take questions from the live and Internet audiences.

Rock The Vote will bring along its omnipresent voter registration van, which is in the midst of a 25-city tour to sign up young voters.

The organization was founded in 1990 by members of the recording industry to support free speech and combat censorship.