Candidates Hit the Commencement Circuit

This Saturday, both Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama will pause from official presidential campaigning to congratulate graduates--aka young voters.

Clinton is scheduled to deliver the commencement address at New Orleans's Dillard University, while Obama takes the stage at Southern New Hampshire University, a key primary state. Several other 2008 hopefuls, including Republicans Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney, have been issuing diplomas from the stump in the past two weeks.

A list of all 2008 candidates--and their spouses--who have delivered keynote addresses is available here.

In a dual attempt to secure a high-profile keynote speaker and to spotlight its name, Southern New Hampshire University took advantage of its setting and also sought out Clinton and Sen. John McCain, leading candidates at the time of selection, according to university President Paul LeBlanc. Obama accepted the invitation first and Clinton will speak on campus at a later, undetermined date, LeBlanc said.

The Southern New Hampshire University board of trustees knew that national figures would be visiting the state during primary campaign season, so it decided to reach out to presidential contenders mainly through campaign workers and state legislators. Since some of the graduates also have become involved with campaigns, "we are never two phone calls away from extending an invitation," LeBlanc added.

--Amy Golod