This is one in a course series for year 2008—focusing on the U.S. presidential election.  The course explores the nation’s highest political theater—moving down the road to the presidency.

To fully appreciate a presidential election, one would have to be everywhere, read and watch everything and track so many issue themes that no single person would be able to do it justice.  But a full class will be able to capture much more of what’s going on.  That’s the logic of the Watch Group projects, an integral part of the course experience.  Each student will be part of a group that will monitor and share with classmates developments in a specific facet of the 2008 presidential campaign – such as advertising, polls, the media, the debates and the issues.  Each Watch Group will produce a final, collaborative report that will be presented publicly and be posted on the Road to the Presidency Watch Group site.  Essentially, each of you will be part of the “University of Delaware Road to the Presidency Think Tank.”

Special features of the course will include presentations from visiting professionals who have studied and/or covered the American political pageant across two decades. Details will be announced in class.