Call it the Run for the Rose Garden.

As President Bush prepares to address the nation in his final State of the Union address tonight (Jan. 23), a pack of presidential aspirants will be keenly watchingas they begin carving out the campaign roadmaps they hope will deliver them to the Oval Office in 2008.

With no incumbent president or vice president in the running, the list of presidential candidates is long alreadyand thats a full year before the first primary votes will be cast.

As hopefuls make their intentions known, Wet Virginia University has two experts who can provide focus and insight on the race for the White House.

They are:

Robert DiClerico, professor of political science, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences. DiClerico is an authority on political parties and elections, and the politics of agenda-setting. Hes the author ofVoting in AmericaandThe American President; and the co-author ofChoosing Our ChoiceandFew Are Chosen.

DiClerico is also a past West Virginia Professor of the Year by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. He can be reached at robert.diclerico@mail.wvu.edu ; 304-293-3812, ext. 5276, or 304-599-0776.

Neil Berch, professor of political science, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences. Berch has extensive knowledge of state and local politics, economic policy and economic models of politics.

He authored several papers and publications addressing tax measures in the U.S., the effects of challenger spending in U.S. House elections, and the campaigns of women candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Berch is also the coach of WVU s highly-successful debate team. He can be reached at neil.berch@mail.wvu.edu ; 304-293-3811, ext. 5290, or 412-445-3957.