Washington and Lee Predicts Clinton

Washington And Lee holds a mock convention every presidential cycle, and they have been remarkably successful at predicting the eventual nominees of the two major parties.

Since 1908, the Convention has correctly selected presidential primary candidates 18 out of 23 times, with only one error since 1948. The Washington and Lee campus is looking forward to yet another successful selection during its centennial meet in 2008. - Washington And Lee

(A delegation at the W&L Mock Convention)
This year, the Convention, after two days of deliberation, selected Hillary Clinton as the Democratic nominee.

Most Accurate Student Mock Convention
Predicts Clinton as Democratic Nominee

LEXINGTON, Va. – After two days of political events at Washington and Lee University, the 2008 Mock Convention selected Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton as the Democratic presidential nominee. The prediction marks the 100th anniversary of the most accurate student-run mock convention in the nation.

Students at W&L, a historic liberal arts college, have picked the correct presidential nominee for the party out of power every time but once since 1948, and have a perfect record since 1972. Since its inception in 1908, the overall record stands at 18 correct predictions out of 23.

More than 90 percent of the student body is involved in running the convention. They spend over two years planning, researching and organizing the quadrennial event, which has consistently featured prominent political figures and received national media attention. - Washington and Lee Press Release

There hasn't been a Presidential race like this one in many generations, as there is no incumbent and no heir apparent in either party. It will be very interesting to see if W&L continues its successful prediction streak. If there is a year in which they might be wrong, this is it. Opinion polls have been remarkably wrong throughout the race. And the voters seem to take pleasure in defying expectations.

On a more local note, it is a credit to the Commonewalth that Virginia's Washington and Lee hosts this event. As the state through which so much of our democracy has flowed throughout American history, it seems appropriate for another Virginia school to lend its voice to our national political conversation. Virginia institutions of higher education take their politics seriously. From the discussion and analysis fora of the Miller Center of Public Affairs and the Center For Politics at UVA to Christopher Newport University's Center for Public Policy, which provides excellent polling of Virginia, with many institutions in between, Virginia's schools provide a deep pool of knowledge and wisdom about our republic from which to draw.