ALEXANDRIA, VA – More than half the states have held primaries and caucuses, but neither the Democrats nor the Republicans have a presidential nominee nailed down. Today, voters are waiting in long lines in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia to exercise their right to vote in the “Chesapeake Primary” which has never before drawn so much attention. In conjunction with this dynamic primary season, the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) is asking voters to cast “ballots” for the candidate they would most like to sit down and chat with over a cold beer.

“With all of the rigors of a campaign – attack ads, phone calls, direct mail – Americans know sometimes it just comes down to who you want to have a beer with,” said NBWA President Craig Purser. “We hope this campaign reminds voters that at the end of the day, while issues are very important, so is conversation, civility and character. Having a beer with someone represents getting to know someone better, and that’s what the campaign season is all about – getting to know these candidates better.”

Voters of legal drinking age can pick a candidate on-line at www.nbwa.org or www.whodoyouwanttohaveabeerwith.com throughout the election season.

In addition to being an election year, 2008 marks the 75^th anniversary of the full repeal of Prohibition and the beginning of effective, state-based alcohol regulation under the 21^st Amendment. Today, Americans enjoy nearly 13,000 labels of beer from coast to coast distributed through a state-regulated system.