Although the Iowa caucuses won’t take place for two years, it’s not too soon to play hardball.

The MSNBC show “Hardball with Chris Matthews” will broadcast live at 4 p.m. Wednesday from Stephens Auditorium. Doors to the event open at 3 p.m. and audience members are asked to be seated by 3:30 p.m.

Matthews’ guest will be Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. In 2000, McCain ran for the Republican nomination for president, but did not receive the bid. McCain is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and serves on the Committee on Armed Services and Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

“Any time there is a national cable television show on your campus, I think students would be foolish not to show up,” said Donald McDowell, president of the ISU College Republicans and junior in political science. “Students need to take these opportunities when they come because they don’t come every day.”

McDowell said this is an entertainment and educational opportunity for students.

“I think it is a great opportunity to see a TV show being taped, but also to see an important politician,” said Sarah Sunderman, president of the ISU Democrats and junior in marketing.

The event is an opportunity for students of all political backgrounds, McDowell said.

“I think students should go out there whether they agree or disagree with McCain and hear what he has to say,” McDowell said.

McDowell said if McCain were to announce that he was running for president, he would probably be at the top of the Republican list.

“He has a strong record on the Senate and a strong military record,” McDowell said.

Steffen Schmidt, professor of political science, said he thinks McCain will run for president.

“He is the front-runner in Iowa,” Schmidt said. “‘Hardball’ is going to give him a huge national publicity.”

Sunderman said the event will be good for McCain politically.

“From everything I’ve heard, I do think he will be running for president,” Sunderman said. “He hasn’t announced anything yet, but I do think he is a front-runner for the Republican party.”

Sunderman said some of the Democrat front-runners for presidency are former Sen. John Edwards, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Sen. Hilary Clinton, D-N.Y., but it is all speculation.

“I think, honestly, it is too early to tell right now,” she said. “After the midterm elections in November things will shape up more.”

Schmidt suggested students show up to the event early because the auditorium will fill up fast.

“Students aren’t going to have a chance to interact with him; this is a highly produced and not a participating kind of environment,” Schmidt said. “But I think students will be interested in the discussion.”

As a journalist, Matthews covered the fall of the Berlin Wall and the first all-races election in South Africa.

“Chris Matthews, he doesn’t play softball, he plays hardball,” McDowell said. “I think the questions will be pretty direct.”