Political scholars, journalists and pundits will offer their informed perspective on where the 2008 presidential election is headed during an Oct. 7 forum for students that is sponsored by Vanderbilt University and the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt.
“The 2008 Presidential Election: Where We Stand and Where We Are Headed” will be led by John Seigenthaler, founder of the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt, and Harold Ford Jr., a visiting professor of political science at Vanderbilt and former congressman. The discussion will be from 10 a.m. to noon.
“We are delighted to offer our students this rare opportunity to hear the views of leading national political experts who have been tracking Barack Obama and John McCain throughout this turbulent campaign,” said Ford, who is a political analyst on MSNBC for NBC News. The former congressman is helping teach a popular Vanderbilt course on the 2008 presidential and congressional elections.
Among the panelists scheduled to participate:
Mike Allen, chief political correspondent for Politico, who previously covered national politics for Time and The Washington Post.
John Geer, Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Vanderbilt and an expert on campaigns, public opinion and negative ads. Geer wrote In Defense of Negativity: Attack Ads in Presidential Campaigns, 1960-2004.
Howard Fineman, Newsweek’s senior Washington correspondent and columnist, senior editor and deputy Washington bureau chief. He is also an NBC News analyst.
Anne Kornblut, writer for The Washington Post. She has been a guest on MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews.
Joe Klein, senior writer and columnist for Time and author of best-selling political novel Primary Colors.
Mark Halperin, senior political analyst and editor-at-large for Time. He is also a political analyst for ABC News.
John Harwood, chief Washington correspondent and columnist, senior editor and deputy Washington bureau chief. He is also an NBC analyst.
Chris Matthews, host of “Hardball with Chris Matthews” on MSNBC.
Seigenthaler, who is chairman emeritus of The Tennessean, will serve as moderator for the forum. Seating is limited, and students will be given preference.
For more news about Vanderbilt’s election experts, click on www.vanderbilt.edu/news/election.
Media Contact: Ann Marie Deer Owens, (615) 322-NEWS
annmarie.owens@vanderbilt.edu