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If Rutgers University and the state's Congressional delegation have their way, President Obama will give the keynote address at the college's 250th anniversary graduation.

(EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS)

TRENTON — It could be the hottest ticket in 2016. And it has nothing to do with the presidential race.

New Jersey’s representatives in Congress want President Obama to speak at Rutgers University’s 250th anniversary graduation.

In a letter dated today, U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez and Congressman Frank Pallone lead the state’s Congressional delegation in urging Obama to accept the college’s invitation to show off his skill for oratory at the commencement ceremony two and a half years from now. (Rutgers’ main campus in New Brunswick is in Pallone’s district.)

“We are pleased to come together to support Rutgers University’s invitation for you to address the graduates of the 250th anniversary commencement,” the letter says. “Your attendance and participation will make this important milestone in Rutgers’ history all the more memorable and auspicious.”

In addition to the backing of the state’s U.S. senators and congressmen, Rutgers sent Obama an official invitation. Alumni, grassroots organizations and students groups are expected to rally around the effort as well.

“This is the 250th commencement at the school. Rutgers is one of only a few colonial colleges,” said Pete McDonough Jr., senior vice president of external affairs at Rutgers. “This is a really big deal and we think it should be a really big deal for the President of the United States. These kinds of anniversaries don’t come around very often.”

The White House is likely to consider Obama’s schedule and goals in weighing the invitation, he said.

“Is it a location and timing that allows us to echo our themes and messages and what does it say about the president that he picked this place? I think when they answer those questions, they’ll say yes,” McDonough said.

The university employs more than 25,000 faculty and staff and has a full-time enrollment of 65,000 students on three campuses, the lawmakers say in their pitch the president, a Democrat who has engaged in several bipartisan kumbaya moments with Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican.

“Rutgers is one of the largest and most prestigious research universities in the nation,” the letter continues.

“Started as Queens College under the royal charter of George III on November 10, 1766, Rutgers is today a proud land-grant university and member of the Association of American Universities. Founded ten years before the United States was even a country, Rutgers is one of the original nine colonial colleges and the only one to become a flagship state land-grant university.”

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