National Agenda series opens with inside look at political conventions

9:42 a.m., Sept. 5, 2012--The 2012 National Agenda speaker series, “Road to the Presidency,” will open at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 12, in Mitchell Hall on the University of Delaware campus in Newark.

The topic of the opening talk will be “Inside the Political Conventions,” and it will feature behind-the-scenes information from “insiders” who attended the national conventions about the role these venerable campaign-starting events play in today’s election environment.

Events Stories

June 5: Blue Hen 5K

University of Delaware graduates planning to attend Alumni Weekend are encouraged to register for the annual Blue Hen 5K walk and run, which will be held Sunday morning, June 5.

June 6-9: Food and culture series

The 20th annual June Lecture Series at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UD in Wilmington will be held June 6-9. Titled 'June a la Carte,' this year's program focuses on great political documents, feminism, world politics and a Newark cuisine sampler.

• June 6-9: Food and culture series
• Through June 30: 'Saving White Clay Creek'
• July 22: WWE Heatwave Tour
• Through Sept. 16: Women of color in academia

A panel of UD faculty, students and other insider attendees at the national political conventions will reveal their observations and insights about one of the most enduring symbols of American presidential campaigns. 

They will answer questions about what’s it like behind-the-scenes, among the media, the delegates, on the convention floor and with the candidates and their hangers-on.

Panelists will include professors Lindsay Hoffman, David Wilson and Tracey Holden, who are affiliated with UD’s Center for Political Communication, as well as students and others who attended either the Republican or Democratic National Conventions in Tampa and Charlotte.

The series will continue at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 19, with a presentation by political journalist Amy Walter on “The Media and the Campaign.” Walter is the political director for ABC News and former editor-in-chief of National Journal’s The Hotline.

National Agenda is sponsored by UD’s Center for Political Communication. Sessions are moderated by Ralph Begleiter, center director.

For a complete list of events at UD, see the @UD calendar.