(Posted September 13, 2010)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Juniata College students will get an inside look at the historic 2008 election campaign between Barack Obama and John McCain from a source truly close to one of the candidates. Meghan McCain, a columnist, blogger and daughter of John McCain, will speak at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 23, in Rosenberger Auditorium in the Halbritter Center for the Performing Arts on the Juniata campus.

The lecture is free and open to the public.

"I am concerned about the environment. I love to wear black. I think government is best when it stays out of people's lives and business as much as possible. I love punk rock. I believe in a strong national defense. I have a tattoo."

Meghan McCain

Meghan McCain came to national prominence in 2007 when she started a blog on the campaign trail as she accompanied her father across the United States as he sought votes for the presidency. She rode the campaign bus, "The Straight Talk Express," and started to write about her experiences on the blog McCainBlogette.com. In addition to reporting on politics, McCain also interspersed her reporting with commentary on music and fashion.

She is currently speaking at college campuses to support her recently published campaign memoir "Dirty Sexy Politics: A True Story." Previously she published "My Dad, John McCain," an illustrated children's book.

Here is an excerpt focused on her father, John McCain, from page 154: "To me, my father is an iconic figure, outspoken and honest, an old-school American hero. His character had been strengthened by the unimaginable things he'd been through. To be honest, I wasn't able to read his memoir, 'Faith of Our Fathers,' which includes descriptions of being a prisoner of war in Vietnam. The thought of my dad having to endure something like that -- well it was just too hard for me, too painful, to read about."

Celebrated for her quirky humor and biting comments about other, more conservative pundits such as Ann Coulter and Laura Ingraham, the 25-year-old writer also is active on social media such as Twitter and Facebook. She also is a political columnist for the website "The Daily Beast."

She describes her political persona as, "I am concerned about the environment. I love to wear black. I think government is best when it stays out of people's lives and business as much as possible. I love punk rock. I believe in a strong national defense. I have a tattoo."

In addition to writing, McCain also has branched out into television, appearing as a commentator on a variety of news and talk shows. She also was a guest co-host on "The View."

Her sometimes acidic remarks in her columns or social media have led more than a few pundits to characterize her as a "maverick," the description John McCain used in his 2008 campaign. In the recent past, Meghan McCain has stepped away from the Republican party line to criticize such media icons as Rush Limbaugh and Karl Rove.

She earned a bachelor's degree in art history from Columbia University and served internships at Newsweek magazine and "Saturday Night Live" before joining her father's campaign.

Her blog has received the Golden Dot Award and two Pollie Awards from the Association of Political and Public Affairs Professionals.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.