Media Contact:
For help contacting the experts listed below, contact Chad Austin
at NC State News Services, at 919/515-3470.

Oct. 20, 2004

NC State Faculty Ready to Provide Expertise for Election Coverage

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

North Carolina State University faculty members can provide reporters with commentary and analysis on the issues leading up to the Nov. 2 elections. Following is a listing of campus experts and a summary of the areas and issues they can address.

Politics and Elections
Dr. Steven Greene, assistant professor of political science, 919/513-0520, can discuss general issues related to the presidential and U.S. Senate races. Greene’s research includes public opinion and factors related to candidates’ popularity among different genders and socio-economic groups. He can also discuss the role of partisanship in elections.

Dr. Andrew Taylor, associate professor of political science, 919/515-8618. Taylor specializes in the U.S. Congress and the presidency. He can also discuss how congressional elections affect North Carolina.

Foreign Policy and International Relations
Dr. William A. Boettcher, assistant professor of political science, 919/515-5096, is available to discuss issues related to homeland security, foreign policy and international relations.

Dr. Heidi Hobbs, director of the Master of International Studies Program in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, 919/513-4389, can discuss the international community’s views about the presidential candidates’ positions on international issues such as peace and security, the international economy, development assistance, the environment, and the role of the United Nations.

Polling Methods and Public Opinion
Dr. Michael Cobb, assistant professor of political science, 919/513-3709, specializes in survey research and polling methods. He is available to discuss reasons for disparities in presidential polls. He can also discuss voting behavior and race in American politics.

Dr. Michael L. Vasu, associate professor of political science and public administration and director of the Social Science Research Laboratory, 919/515-3791, is an expert on polls, scientific surveys, and elections and political campaigns. He is a former president of the Southern Association of Public Opinion Research.

Media and Politics
Dr. Robert Entman, professor of communication and political science, 919/513-4851, can discuss the media's impact on public opinion and foreign policy. His book, "Projections of Power," deals with this topic. He can also discuss the media's framing of George W. Bush and John Kerry and their respective platforms.

Elections and the Federal Courts
Dr. Vincent Phillip Muñoz, assistant professor of political science, 919/515-5037, specializes in constitutional law and American political thought. He can discuss the impact the presidential election could have on the appointment of U.S. Supreme Court justices and other federal judges.

Religion and Politics
Dr. Jason Bivins, associate professor of religious studies, 919/515-6140, can discuss the intersection of religion and politics in America. His research includes the phenomenon of Americans’ public protests of local, state and federal government policies on the basis of religious convictions.

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