November 6 , 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jack Penchoff

jpenchoff@csg.org

(859) 244-8153

Stuck in the Mud: Politics 2006 and Beyond

“Politics is a good thing!” is the slogan of Dr. Larry J. Sabato, the founder and director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics. Sabato will share his insights into this year’s election, as well as future ones, during the closing plenary for The Council of State Governments’ Annual State Trends and Leadership Conference 9 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, at the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort in Phoenix. The meeting begins Nov. 30.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Sabato is “probably the most quoted college professor in the land,” while Fox News Channel has dubbed him as “America's favorite political scientist.”

Sabato bridges the gap between the ivory tower and the real world on issues of critical importance to American democracy, and the challenges facing our political process. His keen observations have been quoted nationally in newspapers and on all the major television networks.

And while we recover from the mudslinging campaigns of 2006, Dr. Sabato is already predicting the 2008 campaigns “will be the dirtiest ever.” He told Advertising Age magazine that in 2008 “the mud will be so thick that people won’t be able to see their TV screens.”

A preliminary agenda for the meeting is located on CSG’s Web site at www.csg.org.

CSG is a national, nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that has championed excellence in state government for more than 70 years by sharing innovative solutions to common problems across state borders.

All sessions are open to the press. However, registration is required. For more information, contact Jack Penchoff at (859) 244-8153 or jpenchoff@csg.org.

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The Council of State Governments is the premier multibranch organization forecasting policy trends for the community of states, commonwealths and territories on a national and regional basis.

CSG alerts state and elected and appointed officials to emerging social, economic and political trends; offers innovative state policy responses to rapidly changing conditions; and advocates multistate problem-solving to maximize resources and competitiveness.

CSG promotes excellence in decision-making and leadership skills and champions state sovereignty.