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Understanding the American Presidential Selection Process

Lecture by Prof. Ronald Hrebenar

Amerika Haus
Vienna, January 25, 2008

PROGRAM BRIEF (pdf) - prepared by the American Reference Center

Remarks by Cultural Attaché Katherine Perez, U.S. Embassy Vienna

‘In the US, it's easier for a Republican to be elected President,’ was one of the issues political scientist and Fulbright Professor Ron Hrebenar of the University of Utah tried to explain in his talk on the upcoming U.S. presidential elections. On January 25, Prof. Hrebenar explained the American electoral process and the current state of the candidates’ campaigns to a packed Amerika Haus in Vienna. He pointed out that neither the Republicans nor the Democrats have a sure winner among their candidates. Nearly 200 high school students, academia, journalists, and the general public attended the talk. The attendance showed the high interest Austrians are taking in the 2008 presidential elections. Cultural Attaché Katherine Perez underscored in her opening remarks that seemingly the whole world is paying attention to the American primaries because the outcome is particularly unpredictable.


Cultural Attaché Katherine Perez, U.S. Embassy Vienna, giving her welcoming remarks	Fulbright-Vienna University Distinguished Chair in the Social Sciences and Humanities Prof. Ronald Hrebenar


Audience at the Amerika Haus	Prof. Hrebenar answering questions from the audience during the Q & A session

Remarks by Cultural Attaché Katherine Perez

Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Amerika Haus and to today's program. I am Katherine Perez, the Cultural Attaché of the U.S. Embassy.

I'm very pleased that Professor Ron Hrebenar has graciously agreed to give a second talk on the status quo of the current U.S. primaries. Back in December, Prof. Hrebenar gave a lecture at a packed Amerika Haus. Since so many of you asked us for a repeat, he accepted our invitation to give an updated version this afternoon. I must say I'm overwhelmed by the response. It seems that everyone is paying particular attention because it's such a tight race. It's great that so many young students are interested in the U.S. presidential election process. And who would be a better expert than Prof. Hrebenar to provide us with some insight into the election process.

Ron Hrebenar is the Fulbright-University of Vienna Distinguished Chair in the Social Sciences and Humanities, a Professor and former Chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Utah and former Director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah.

He is the author and editor of a dozen books, and over 50 articles and chapters on the topics of interest groups, lobbying, political parties and elections in the United States and Japan. Dr. Hrebenar regularly teaches classes on political parties and elections, interest groups and lobbying.

I'm much looking forward to his take on the currently tight race between the candidates in the primaries. Before I leave the floor to Prof. Hrebenar, please let me say a few words about one of our upcoming programs.

In February the United States celebrate Black History Month, which is dedicated to honor the contributions of African-Americans to cultural and political life. Between February 3rd and 24th, the Embassy has organized a charity festival with the proceeds going to CARE AUSTRIA's projects in Darfur, Sudan.

The program includes a concert at Vienna's Birdland showcasing African-American music from Jazz to HipHop; the Austrian premiere of an African-American play at Ensemble Theater, as well as special screenings of all-time classic movies at the Filmmuseum.

Please take one of the flyers we've provided at the entrance for ticket and program information. Now back to the American primaries and Prof. Hrebenar's presentation. Ron, welcome to Amerika Haus. The floor is yours.