We were witness to history last night when Barack Obama became the first African-American to be nominated for president by one of the nation’s major political parties. In an op-ed published in the Bergen Record on Sunday, the Hall Institute’s Richard Lee reflects on the historic nature of this year’s race for the White House. Read

The Veep — In a Hall Institute podcast, presidential scholar Michael Riccards discusses Barack Obama’s selection of Joe Biden as a running mate and what candidates need to do to make their tickets more attractive. Play

NJ2008 — Now that the campaign is in full swing, you can learn where the candidates stand on the issues of most importance to New Jerseyans by visiting the Hall Institute’s NJ2008 section. Read

Senate 2008 — Here in the New Jersey, citizens also will vote to select a U.S. Senator. Since July, the candidates have been exchanging statements online in our virtual debate. This week Frank Lautenberg and Dick Zimmer respond to a question on the war in Iraq. Read

• Riccards on New Jersey 2008 — A blog on our state's expanded role in the 2008 presidential race.
• Rich Lee on Media — Musings on those who make the news and those who report it.
• Hall Institute Forum — Our public affairs television program.
• Hall Institute Radio Podcast Forum — Audio discussion of timely and topical public policy issues.
• A School Funding Scrapbook — Commentary on education issues and policy.
• White Papers
• Research Essays
• Op-Ed Articles
• Press Releases

The Hall Institute is a non-partisan, not-for-profit foundation established to explore social, economic, educational and cultural issues. Since its inception in 2005, the institute has posted more than 400 white papers, research essays and op-ed articles on its website at www.hallnj.org in an effort to generate debate and discussion and develop solutions to the problems confronting the state and its residents.

The institute has conducted several special events, including NJ2008, a series of public forums on the state’s role in the 2008 presidential campaign. In 2006, the institute presented an online Virtual Debate among the candidates in New Jersey's U.S. Senate race. At present, we are sponsoring a Similar Virtual Debate for the state's 2008 U.S. Senate election.

The organization produces public affairs television, podcasts and blogs, and also has published two books -- The State of the Garden State and Reaction and Reform in New Jersey. Both are compilations of the major papers posted on its website. A third volume, Creating A Common Future: New Jersey and Public Policy, is posted on the Hall Institute website.

Earlier this year, the institute acquired the Bay Area Center for Voting Research, a non-partisan think tank based in Berkeley, California, leading to the start of the Hall Institute of Public Policy – California.

Located in Trenton directly across from the New Jersey State House, the institute was established by George E. Hall, a successful business executive and a leading philanthropist who lives in Middletown, N.J.