(women cheer)

- [Jennifer] What's motivating

these Virginia college students

to get up early on a cold winter morning?

- Washington!

(men cheer)

- [Jennifer] It's not Abe

or even Elvis.

Believe it or not.

(man shouts)

It's presidential politics.

Washington and LeeUniversity's mock convention

kicks off with a paradeof student delegations

from each state and US territory.

- [All] We retired to Florida.

- They're preparing to weigh in

on the Democratic Presidential Primary.

And if history is any guide,

their prediction will be powerful.

W&L held its first mockconvention in 1908.

Since then, studentshave correctly predicted

the nominee 20 out of 26 tries.

Held every four years, theprestigious, student-run event

focuses on the party out ofpower in the White House.

- And then we also write a platform.

So it's not just picking the nominee,

it's predicting the whole

convention, pretty much.

- [Jennifer] In 2016, studentssuccessfully predicted Trump

would win the Republican nomination.

But this year has presentedunique challenges.

- With Bloomberg entering the race late,

and just recently having his

vast investment intocampaign infrastructure,

start to really begin to show

signs of success,

as well as Biden's fallin Iowa and New Hampshire,

things are a lot less sure.

- [Jennifer] Wes Culp is on the team

that analyzes and addsto months of research

compiled by student state chairs.

- We have not left asingle stone unturned.

- [Jennifer] And thisyear, after all their hard

and, some might call, impossible work,

students predict SenatorBernie Sanders will win

the top prize,

but not until the last second.

They project Sanders willenter the National Convention

just shy of enough delegatesto secure the nomination.

Due to the crowded field of moderates,

they think he'll win enough delegates

on a second ballot.

The complex process of figuring it all out

is eye opening for students.

- It's been really fun toget politically active,

'cause I'm not politically active,

and learn something or two.

I'll be the first personin my family to vote ever

in the States.

I'm a daughter of immigrants.

So that's been really exciting

to kinda just learn anddo it in a really fun way

with my friends.

- It's been a unique experience

where I've been able to kind of divulge,

and try to figure out

everything that I believe in.

- I think this organization is so great,

because it brings everyoneon our campus together.

We have over 98% of thestudent body involved.

- So did they get it right?

Onto Nevada, South Carolina,Super Tuesday, and beyond

to find out.

Jennifer Wishon, CBNNews, Lexington, Virginia.