The conference will bring together, elected officials, candidates, and political professionals from across Latin America with world class experts in the areas of political strategy, campaign management, polling, technology and new media, advertising, fundraising, and communications.

The 2-day program will present best practices and emerging trends in campaign management and political marketing to help candidates and political parties innovate and win.

Participants will hear from the best and brightest of Latin America as well as from the most recognized names in U.S. political strategy and marketing--including key advisors of the Obama for President campaign.  Among them are Joel Benenson, chief Pollster; John Del Cecato, media advisor; Ami Copeland, Deputy National Finance Director, Cuauhtémoc “Temo” Figueroa, National Director of the Latino Vote; Kirk Wagar, National Finance Director for Florida and Emily Williams, Online Advertising Campaign Manager. Also speaking is Ben Self, Tech Director of the Democratic National Committee and Founder of Blue State Digital, the firm credited for implementing Obama’s phenomenal new media strategy.

Other headliners include principals from communications consultancy Newlink Political- Eduardo Gamarra, Sergio Roitberg and Mauricio de Vengoechea as well and Sergio Bendixen, founder of Bendixen and Associates, a leading public opinion research, management, and communications consulting firm. Both companies consult extensively for Latin American political campaigns

“The election campaign process is the heart of democracy, and the Campaigns & Elections conference is an event that focuses on this political heartbeat. The School of Communication at the University of Miami is delighted to be hosting this important meeting which has its finger squarely on the pulse of the democratic process,” said Dean of the School of Communication Sam L Grogg. “And we are especially pleased that the conference is focusing on politics and elections in Latin America.”

One of the key themes of the conference is the powerful role new media and digital technologies hold for Latin American political parties and candidates in revolutionizing how they conduct campaigns and interact with voters. Panels will include Blueprint for a Campaign Plan; Understanding Polling & Focus Groups; How to Develop a Campaign’s Message; Securing the Youth Vote; How to Build a Grassroots Organization; Get Ready for Campaigning 2.0; How to Deal with the Media; Crisis Management-How to Manage Mistakes; How to Raise Money; Reconstructing Latin America’s Political Parties with Web 2.0; Television Advertising: What’s Working and What’s Not; and How to Adapt American Political Management Techniques to Latin America.
Simultaneous translation to Spanish and Portuguese will be provided.

Members of the media who wish to obtain media credentials must register at http://www.politicsmagazine.com

For press inquiries, contact Barbara Gutierrez at 305.284-6748 or bgutierrez@miami.edu.