The University of Virginia honored Presidents Day by analyzing the 2012 elections. The Miller Center hosted top scholars for a discussion on Michael Nelson's forthcoming book titled "The Elections of 2012".
Topics ranged from the perils of second-term presidents to campaign financing.
Nelson says it's important to understand the historical roots behind contemporary politics.
"It's tough for a second-term president, any second-term president, and often it's because they overestimate the significance of their real action and I think we might be seeing a little bit of that with Barack Obama, who didn't talk very much during the campaign about gun control or immigration reform," said Nelson.
Nelson is a senior fellow at the Miller Center. His book will be released in March.
