People: Mar. 27, 2006

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Most high school election campaigns are decided over bake sales and banners. Not so for the Washington-area students at the focus of Lifetime Television's new reality show Election. Seasoned political strategists--and spouses--JAMES CARVILLE, 61, who helped orchestrate Bill Clinton's winning campaign in 1992, and MARY MATALIN, 52, a longtime adviser to Dick Cheney, have signed on to counsel the candidates for school president. Will this be the most serious student campaign ever? "I don't think there will be a media campaign," says Matalin. Adds Carville: "The real trick with any 61-year-old dealing with any 16-year-old is to get them to listen to a word you say. I'm remarkably unsuccessful with my own." --Reported by Melissa August/Washington