October 20, 2008 — In word and action, Barack Obama and John McCain have promised to be "post-partisan" presidents. But given important partisan differences on issues such as health care, the economy and foreign policy, can they deliver?

The University of Virginia’s Miller Center of Public Affairs will host a special panel, "Now What? Can the New President Rise Above Partisan Polarization to Govern Effectively?" on Oct. 24 at 1:30 p.m.

Presented by the Miller Center's Governing America in a Global Era (GAGE) program, the event is co-sponsored by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation.

As political parties have played a critical role in the development of American democracy, does a post-partisan age make sense? This distinguished group will assess whether both campaigns have successfully laid the groundwork for true bipartisan cooperation in the next administration.

The panel:

•    William A. Galston, senior fellow and Ezra K. Zilkha Chair in Governance Studies, Brookings Institution;
•    Edward Wasserman, Knight Professor of Journalism and Mass Communications, Washington and Lee University;
•    Washington Post reporter Juliet Eilperin; and
•    Barbara Sinclair, professor emeritus in American politics, University of California, Los Angeles

Sid Milkis, assistant director for academic programs at the Miller Center and White Burkett Miller Professor of Politics at U.Va., will moderate.

The forum will be held at the Miller Center, 2201 Old Ivy Road, Charlottesville. The panel is free and open to the public. This event will be webcast live and archived online at www.millercenter.org.