Additionally, Lily Collins, Lil‘ JJ and Pick Boy -- Nickelodeon‘s Kids Pick the President Election Connection Team -- will follow the campaign trail by providing kids with an insider point-of-view at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions.

All this leads up to the Kids Pick the President kids‘ vote which begins on 12 October. Historically, kids have correctly chosen the next US president in four out of five presidential elections. This election year‘s vote follows Nickelodeon‘s first-ever kids‘ primary, held earlier this year, where kids correctly forecasted this year‘s candidates: Senators John McCain and Barack Obama.

Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group executive VP public affairs Marva Smalls says, "This presidential election has ignited so many young people to become more involved," said . "We want to connect our audiences to the process -- the candidates and issues. Kids -- although not legal voters -- don‘t want to be on the sidelines."

A series of educational and humorous spots featuring the Kids Pick the President Election Connection Team will be introduced on-air and online in conjunction with the Democratic National Convention, on 25 August. The Election Connection Team will report from the conventions, profile the candidates, and get out the word about the Kids Pick the President kids‘ vote. Lil‘ JJ will also serve as blogger-extraordinaire on nick.com with up-to-the minute details of his experiences at the conventions.

Leading up to the Kids Pick the President online vote, where kids can choose their presidential candidate of choice, the Emmy Award-winning Linda Ellerbee will host two new half-hour Nick News specials. In "Tales from the Trail," premiering 24 August, at 9 pm (ET/PT), Nick News will follow kids who are rooting for, and actively campaigning for, Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain. The special will provide a glimpse into what will take place at the Democratic and Republican Conventions. In the final Kids Pick the President special, which premieres in October, Nick News will take kids‘ questions to the presidential candidates and then encourage kids to go online to www.nick.com/kpp and vote for the next US president.

Teachers can also find Nickelodeon‘s Cable in the Classroom programne‘s election-themed lesson plans online at www.teachers.nick.com.