Clinton, Thompson Win First Presidential 'Primary'

Nation's Social Studies Teachers Flex Voting Muscles and Choose '08

Contenders Pearson Sponsors Presidential Primary at National Council for

the Social Studies Annual Event

    SAN DIEGO, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Senator Hillary
 Rodham Clinton of New York and former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson of
 Tennessee are the top choices for the 2008 Democratic and Republican
 nominations for President of the United States, according to the nation's
 first Presidential "Primary" of voters at the National Council for the
 Social Studies annual conference in San Diego.
 
     Sponsored by Pearson, more than 700 of the nation's social studies
 teachers flexed their voting muscles and put the principles they teach
 about every day into action by casting their votes.
 
     Senator Clinton won her party's nod with 41.9% of the vote. Senator
 Thompson was the Republicans' top choice with 23.2% of the vote.
 
     On the Democratic side, U.S. Senator Barack Obama of Illinois came in
 second with 34% of the vote, followed by former U.S. Senator and 2004 Vice
 Presidential candidate John Edwards of North Carolina with 12.3%.
 
     Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani came in second on the
 Republican side to Thompson with 20.5% of the vote. Former Arkansas
 Governor Mike Huckabee was third at 18.9%, while former Massachusetts
 Governor Mitt Romney and U.S. Senator John McCain of Arizona had 16.3% and
 13.2% of the votes, respectively.
 
     A complete list of the results follows at the end of this release.
 
     Following the voting, teachers received a free Election 2008 kit full
 of ideas and activities designed to promote student learning about the
 United States' election process.
 
     "All of us at Pearson have a strong appreciation for our nation's
 social studies teachers," said Michael Gee, Senior Vice President for
 Humanities and Social Sciences at Pearson School. "They have a direct
 impact on America's future-they lay the foundation for students'
 understanding of democracy. A social studies teacher's influence can
 motivate students to be active participants in society and fuel a lifelong
 appreciation and love for our country's founding principles."
 
     About Pearson
 
     Pearson ( PSO) is the global leader in educational publishing,
 assessment, information and services, helping people of all ages to learn
 at their own pace, in their own way. For students preK-12, Pearson provides
 effective and innovative curriculum products in all available media,
 educational assessment and measurement for students and teachers, student
 information systems, and teacher professional development and certification
 programs. Our respected brands include Scott Foresman, Prentice Hall,
 SuccessMaker, Waterford, AGS, PowerSchool, Chancery SMS, SASI, Pearson
 Inform, Teachervision.com and many others. Our comprehensive offerings help
 inform targeted instruction and intervention so that success is within
 reach of every student. Pearson's other primary businesses include the
 Financial Times Group and the Penguin Group.
 
 

                      PEARSON PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY RESULTS
 
     Democratic Party
     Hillary Rodham Clinton: 41.9%
     Barack Obama: 34%
     John Edwards: 12.3%
     Dennis Kucinich: 6.2%
     Bill Richardson: 2.9%
     Joe Biden: 1.9%
     Chris Dodd: 0.4%
     Mike Gravel: 0.4%
 
     Republicans
     Fred Thompson: 23.2%
     Rudy Giuliani: 20.5%
     Mike Huckabee: 18.9%
     Mitt Romney: 16.3%
     John McCain: 13.2%
     Ron Paul: 5.8%
     Duncan Hunter: 1.1%
     Tom Tancredo: 1.1%
 
 

SOURCE Pearson