General Wesley Clark earned the Democratic presidential nomination and Dennis Kucinich was tabbed as the vice presidential candidate tonight at the Westminster College Mock Convention - the second oldest of its kind in the nation.

Clark earned 228 delegates and was elected on the third ballot to cap off the two-day convention in Westminster's Memorial Field House. Hundreds of red, white, and blue balloons descended upon the floor to signal the victory. Kucinich finished second with 202 delegates and was selected as the vice presidential candidate.

Asleigh Oram, a senior political science major from Jamestown, N.Y., was Clark's campaign manager. Colby King, a freshman environmental science major from Slippery Rock, managed Kucinich.

Westminster students have learned about politics through participating in the Mock Convention since 1936. Thomas V. Mansell, a 1929 Westminster graduate who returned to teach at the College in 1933, founded the convention. It is held every four years for the party that is currently out of power.

The event, which is entirely student-run, provided nearly 800 students the opportunity to participate in one of Westminster's longest standing traditions, while learning more about the election process. Students are picked to represent candidates and manage campaigns to gain student support in the months leading up to the Feb. 5-6 convention. During the convention, students debate the party's platform, hear from each candidate's campaign managers, and eventually decide on a ticket.

Paul Begala, noted political consultant and co-host of CNN's Crossfire, provided Thursday's keynote address.

For more information contact Dr. James Rhoads, associate professor of political science and convention faculty advisor, at (724) 946-7255 or e-mail jrhoads@westminster.edu.