FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 16, 2007 

ELECTION SEASON HEATS UP IN DC

As the presidential election heats up, there's no better place to count the ballots than in the nation's capital. Candidates are making their rounds on the campaign trail earlier than ever. DC attractions and dining venues are following, with political tours, specialty menu items and exhibitions that add to the excitement surrounding one of the most talked-about presidential elections in U.S. history.

In DC's newest sightseeing adventure, the Bi-Partisan Tour Company puts a political spin on the traditional landmarks. Tour-goers climb into "bi-partisan" red and blue electric roadsters equipped with GPS technology and enjoy a narrated tour of the history and drama of the nation's capital. True political junkies can even sport rubber masks bearing the likeness of current government figures and honk a red or blue horn to show their party loyalties. Tours are $78 per person ($39 for riders under age 22; drivers must be at least 22 years old). 

Lotus Lounge is leading the trail of politically aware DC hotspots by offering libations worthy of your vote. The lounge's "Pick the POTUS at Lotus" promotion allows customers to "vote" for a candidate by ordering one of 17 drinks named after those in the race. The "Obama-rama" features Grey Goose orange-flavored vodka, Malibu rum and orange, cranberry and pineapple juices in a nod to the candidate's childhood home state of Hawaii. The "Hillartini's" ingredients mirror those that comprise a cosmopolitan - pink and feminine, yet strong and bold, just like Hillary Clinton, for whom the drink is named. Each drink order will count as one vote, and the winner will be announced just before the Iowa caucuses, which take place Jan. 14. By the way, POTUS cleverly stands for "President of the United States."

To honor the 90th anniversary of First Lady Edith Bolling Wilson's creation of the White House China Room, the Woodrow Wilson House Museum has recreated the symbolic interior for a one-of-a-kind exhibition. On view through Aug. 4, 2008, The Presidential Dish: Mrs. Woodrow Wilson and the White House China Room offers visitors a rare opportunity to see a replica of the "Presidential Collection Room" as it was in 1917 and view more than 130 pieces of porcelains in carefully designed casework with engraved plaques that indicate which china was used by which president. The centerpiece of the exhibition is the intricate service commissioned during the Rutherford B. Hayes presidency, circa 1880. The beautifully painted pieces feature striking renderings of flora and fauna from all regions of the country, sending a message of unity to a nation recently divided by the Civil War. General admission to the museum is $7.50 for adults and $3 for students and children under seven and includes a tour of the charming 1920s-era mansion as well.

Early next year, look for a new political cartoon exhibition to debut in the spirit of the campaign swing. Running for Office: Candidates, Campaigns, and the Cartoons of Clifford Berryman will open in the National Archives' Lawrence F. O'Brien Gallery and includes 41 exceptional pen-and-ink drawings that highlight timeless aspects of the American campaign and election process. Although faces and personalities change, Berryman's cartoons illustrate how the political process in our democracy has remained remarkably consistent. The cartoons provide relevant commentary and insight into the campaigns and elections of today. The exhibition will be on display Feb. 8-Aug. 1, and is free and open to the public.

Presidential buffs will be in for a unique treat this spring when the Library of Congress debuts its new interactive visitor experience. As part of its new addition, the Library will display more than 2,000 volumes from Thomas Jefferson’s original collection, which provided the seed for the world’s largest library’s vast holdings.

Stay tuned to future issues of Travel News for updates on election-inspired events taking over the nation's capital.

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About Destination DC: Destination DC, the lead destination marketing organization for the nation’s capital, is a private, non-profit membership organization of more than 1,000 businesses committed to marketing the area as a premier global convention, tourism and special events destination with a special emphasis on the arts, cultural and historic communities. Destinationdc.com.