February 6, 2008

EXPERTS: 2008 ELECTION

Bert Rockman, professor and head of the Department of Political Science

Rockman can talk about current and past presidential candidates and elections. He is co-editor of a book series that assesses the terms of former presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. His most recent book, "The George W. Bush Legacy," was published in July 2007. A news release about his book is available at https://www.purdue.edu/uns/x/2007b/070731RockmanBush.html

Personal homepage: https://www.polsci.purdue.edu/Directory/Faculty/rockman.html

CONTACT: (765) 494-4162, barockma@purdue.edu

Political campaigns, Latino issues and concession speeches

James McCann, professor of political science

McCann can talk about candidate nominations, political campaigns and issues concerning immigration. He is an expert on political polling, public opinion and U.S. political parties. He also studies presidential candidates' concession speeches. A recent news release about the presidential election is available at https://www.purdue.edu/uns/x/2008a/080130T-McCannPrimaries.html

Personal homepage: https://www.polsci.purdue.edu/Directory/Faculty/mccann.html

CONTACT: (765) 494-0738, mccannj@purdue.edu

Political parties, Latino voters

Stacey Connaughton, assistant professor of communication

Connaughton, an expert in organizational and political communication, looks at how the Republican and Democratic parties are courting Latino voters via political advertisements and other campaign messages.

Personal homepage: https://www.cla.purdue.edu/communication/people/sconnaughton.shtml

CONTACT: (765) 494-9107, sconnaug@purdue.edu

Political parties, voting

William Shaffer, professor of political science

Shaffer specializes in political parties and their behavior. He works in the areas of electoral behavior, legislative behavior, political parties and public opinion. He has written several books, including "Computer Simulation of Voting Behavior," "Party and Ideology in the U.S. Congress" and "Politics, Parties and Parliaments."

Personal homepage: https://www.polsci.purdue.edu/Directory/Faculty/shaffer.html

CONTACT: (765) 496-3921, wshaffer@purdue.edu

Women in politics, public opinion

Rosalee Clawson, associate professor of political science

Clawson's research interests are in public opinion, political psychology, the mass media, and the politics of race and gender. She can discuss women and politics, race and politics, media and politics, and public opinion.

Personal homepage: https://www.polsci.purdue.edu/Directory/Faculty/clawson.html

CONTACT: (765) 494-7599, clawsonr@purdue.edu

Patriotism, political attitudes and identities

Jeremy Straughn, assistant professor of sociology

Straughn can talk about Americans' attitude about patriotism, specifically during wartime, and how patriotism affects public opinion and voting trends. His research is about political attitudes and identities, including national identity, patriotism and nationalism.

Personal homepage: https://www.cla.purdue.edu/sociology/directory/?personid=950

CONTACT: (765) 494-4706, jstraugh@purdue.edu

Media bias and politics

Philo Wasburn, professor of sociology

Wasburn's research focuses on the relations among media, politics and society, specifically how these factors affect Americans' interest in politics. He is working on a book about media bias. A news release about how media bias contributes to voting apathy can be found at https://www.purdue.edu/uns/x/2007b/070926T-WasburnBias.html

Personal homepage: https://www.cla.purdue.edu/sociology/directory/?personid=952

CONTACT: (765) 494-4686, wasburn@purdue.edu

Presidential candidates and possible judicial nominations

William McLauchlan, associate professor of political science

McLauchlan, who is a constitutional law expert, can talk about the candidates' possible judicial appointments to the Supreme Court and federal courts.

Personal homepage: https://www.polsci.purdue.edu/Directory/Faculty/mclauchlan.html

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

Note to Journalists: The Purdue University experts listed below can address many topics related to the 2008 presidential election. Journalists who have questions can contact Amy Patterson Neubert, Purdue News Service, (765) 494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu.

To the News Service home page