Issues and some answers will be examined at Wells College by a senior political expert from TIME. Mark Halperin, editor at large and senior political analyst since April 2007, will present issues facing voters in the national election. Halperin's sharp analysis of candidates' biographies, policies, political skills and presidential prospects will permeate his presentation.

Well known for his accessible, humorous style, Halperin plans to speak and then take questions from the audience. He will talk about the nominees, the Electoral College and the issues, basing much of what he says on audience questions, he said.

Before joining TIME, Halperin, at ABC News for nearly 20 years, covered five presidential elections and served as political director from 1997 to 2007. He was responsible for political reporting and planning television, radio and Internet political coverage. A regular correspondent and analyst on ABC News TV and radio, he contributed commentary and reported during election night coverage, presidential inaugurations and State of the Union speeches.

Halperin reported on every major American political story, including the Clinton presidential campaign in 1992 and the Clinton White House. He also covered major non-political stories, such as the O.J. Simpson criminal trial and the Oklahoma City bombing.

He founded and edited the online publication “The Note” on abcnews.com, characterized as the most influential daily tipsheet in American politics by such publications as The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Vanity Fair.

He is still a political analyst for ABC News and authored “The Undecided Voter's Guide to the Next President in 2007.” In the book, Halperin covers seven candidates: Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Fred Thomson, while providing insight into potential dark horse candidates. He also co-authored “The Way to Win: Taking the White House in 2008” in 2006.

Halperin received his bachelor's from Harvard University in 1987 and resides in New York City. He was a desk assistant for ABC News and a researcher for “World News Tonight” in 1988.

Kathleen Barran

253-5311 ext. 238

kathleen.barran@lee.net

If you go.

What: If you go

Who: Mark Halperin

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5

Where: Phipps Auditorium, Macmillan Hall, Wells College, Aurora

Cost: Free for Wells students, $6 for other students and seniors, $10 for the public

Info: Call 364-345; tickets are available at the door the night of the lecture or from the box office the preceding week