2008 Presidential Election Panel
The 2008 Presidential Election Panel discussion brought experts in the areas of presidential campaigns, party rules, and foreign affairs together with students for an indepth look at the forces behind the 2008 election. The discussion focused on several important aspects of the current presidential election: the role of the primaries / caucuses, the effects of frontloading the primary calendar, candidate strategy at the conventions, the selection and announcement of Vice Presidential running-mates, the effects of scandals, and candidate issue positions. Finally the panel was asked to make some predictions about November.
For more information and primary sources used by the panelists during the discussion, please follow the links below.
The Candidates
General Election Information
Election Blogs
- Frontloading HQ by our own Josh Putnam, University of Georgia.
- Huffington Post
- INSTAPUNDIT.com
- dailykos.com
- OxBlog is a blog run by former graduate students of Oxford University.
Polling Information
Electoral College
- CQ Politics interactive Electoral College map
- National Archives and Records Administration: administers the Electoral College. This website gives an overview of the process.
Guest Panelists
- Dr. Paul Gurian is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Georgia. His primary research interests are campaigns and elections. Dr. Gurian teaches sections of American Government, Campaign Politics, and graduate courses in campaign politics.
- Josh Putnam is a Ph.D. student at the University of Georgia. He is currently completing his dissertation on state decisions to frontload the primary calendar. Josh teaches sections of American Government, Introdution to Political Science, Campaign Politics, and Research Methods in Political Science.
- Ann Mezzell is a Ph.D. studen at the University of Georgia. Ann's primary research interests are national and international security policy. She is completing her dissertation on state building operations in weak and failing states in the developing world. Ann teaches sections of American Government, Global Security Policy, Introduction to Comparative Politics, and graduate courses in teaching.