The results are in...
Every four years, Washington & Lee University holds a mock presidential nominating convention for the party out of power. It is not the first mock convention held by a university, but it is one of the most (if not the most) accurate. Out of 23 conventions since its inception in 1908, the students have correctly predicted the presidential nominee 18 times. Out of the 15 conventions since 1948, the students have correctly predicted the nominee 14 times (93.333 percent accuracy). The students were wrong in 1972, giving the nomination to Edward Kennedy, who bowed out of the race.
The school attributes this accuracy to long hours of careful research by students.
Its record for V.P. of the United States is not nearly as accurate -- the students have correctly guessed only twice (though it's not taken as seriously as the presidential nomination -- past nominees have included Jack Daniels and Elvis Presley).
Today, the students nominated Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential candidate on the first ballot, and Harold Ford, Jr., of Tennessee for the vice presidential candidacy by a voice vote.
The school attributes this accuracy to long hours of careful research by students.
Its record for V.P. of the United States is not nearly as accurate -- the students have correctly guessed only twice (though it's not taken as seriously as the presidential nomination -- past nominees have included Jack Daniels and Elvis Presley).
Today, the students nominated Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential candidate on the first ballot, and Harold Ford, Jr., of Tennessee for the vice presidential candidacy by a voice vote.