2012 Washington University Election Experts

Political insight from WUSTL's experts

Washington University in St. Louis experts are available to provide insight into issues driving the latest election news, including questions regarding economic trends, tax reform, health care and other election-critical policy issues. Click below for background on experts on topics ranging from the American presidency in war time to the the political mindset of evangelical Christian women.

Washington University faculty are available for taped and live-remote interviews via the university’s broadcast studio, which is equipped with a high-definition, broadcast-quality audio (ISDN) and video (vyvx) transmission lines.

To arrange an interview, contact the expert directly or work with the media liaison listed on each faculty member’s expert page. For immediate assistance or information on how to request assistance after business hours, contact public affairs at (314) 935-5230.

American Politics


James Gibson
: Judicial politics, political psychology, political tolerance, survey research.

Peter Kastor: The American presidency, role of the vice president, American political institutions, the Founding Fathers.

Bruce La Pierre: Constitutional law, campaign finance reform, desegregation, civil rights.

Gregory Magarian: Election law, First Amendment, third parties, free speech, law and religion, church-state law, media regulation, free press, the Constitution, legal issues surrounding health care reform law.

Gary Miller: Public bureaucracy, legislative decision making, formation of institutions, committee decision making, organization theory.

Steven S. Smith: Congress, American politics, legislative institutions, congressional elections, implications of election outcomes for governing, lame duck sessions.

William Lowry: American politics, environmental policy, natural resources, public policy, environmental restoration, environmental voting records, national park system.

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Political Communications
Richard Chapman: Mass media and politics, political communications, CNN, Iraq, Vietnam, film production, screenwriting, television production, war reporting.
Wayne Fields: Presidential rhetoric, political speechmaking, American political argument, rhetoric, non-fiction prose, religion and politics.
James Gibson: Survey research, public opinion polls.
Alan Lambert: Rally-round-the-flag effects, presidents in wartime, political ideology.

Henry Schvey: Oral presentation; body language; debate demeanor

Bill Whitaker: Oral presentation; body language; debate demeanor

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Campaign Strategy
James Gibson: Public opinion polls.
Steven S. Smith: Congress, American politics, congressional elections.
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The American Presidency
Charles Burson: Bush v. Gore, Supreme Court and presidential elections.
Wayne Fields: Presidential rhetoric, speechmaking, political argument.
Peter Kastor: The American presidency, role of the vice president, American political institutions, the Founding Fathers.
Alan Lambert: Rally-round-the-flag effects, presidents in wartime, political ideology.
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Religion and Politics
Wayne Fields: Presidential rhetoric, political speechmaking, American political argument, rhetoric, non-fiction prose, religion and politics.
Marie Griffith: Religion and politics, evangelical women, American Christianity, evangelical diet and fitness movement, women and religion in the African Diaspora, American religions, American religious history, sexuality debates in twentieth-century American Christianity.
John Inazu: Religion and politics, religion and the Constitution, constitutional law, freedom of assembly, First Amendment.
Gregory Magarian: Free speech, law and religion, church-state law
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Politics and the Law

Cheryl Block: Federal budget, tax law and policy, corporate taxation, federal bailouts, tax cut extensions, tax deficits.

Charles Burson: Bush v. Gore, Supreme Court and presidential elections.

Marion Crain: Unions, collective bargaining, public employee unions, labor law, employment law, family Law, labor movement, employee benefits, wage disparities.

John Inazu: Religion and politics, religion and the Constitution, constitutional law, freedom of assembly, First Amendment.

Bruce La Pierre: Constitutional law, campaign finance reform, desegregation, civil rights.

Gregory Magarian: Election law, First Amendment, third parties, free speech, law and religion, church-state law, media regulation, free press, the Constitution, legal issues surrounding health care reform law.

Leila Sadat: Foreign relations, terrorism, human rights, religious freedom, war crimes, criminal law, international law, U.S. constitution, official language laws

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Economic Issues / Fiscal Policy
Steve Fazzari: United States economy, consumer debt, sub-prime mortgage loans, macroeconomics, deficits, tax.
Marion Crain: Unions, collective bargaining, public employee unions, labor law, employment law, family law, labor movement, employee benefits, wage disparities.
Cheryl Block: Federal budget, tax law and policy, corporate taxation, federal bailouts, tax cut extensions, tax deficits.
Michele Boldrin: Public policy, foreign policy, economic crisis, economic growth, innovation, business cycles, intellectual property, welfare, property rights, education.
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Foreign Policy
Michele Boldrin: Public policy, foreign policy, economic crisis, economic growth, innovation, business cycles, intellectual property, welfare, property rights, education.
Robert Canfield: Islamic politics, U.S. anti-terrorism policy, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Central Asia, Eastern Islamic World, Turko-Persian, Hazarajat of Afghanistan, Osama bin Laden, Taliban.
Alan Lambert: Rally-round-the-flag effects, presidents in wartime, political ideology.
Leila Sadat: Foreign relations, terrorism, human rights, religious freedom, war crimes, criminal law, international law, U.S. constitution, official language laws.
James V. Wertsch: Russia and former Soviet Union, U.S.-Russian relations, diplomacy, collective memory, identity, international studies.
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Social Policy Issues
Marion Crain: Unions, collective bargaining, public employee unions, labor law, employment law, family Law, labor movement, employee benefits, wage disparities.
Gregory Magarian: Election law, First Amendment, third parties, free speech, law and religion, church-state law, media regulation, free press, the Constitution, legal issues surrounding health care reform law.
Tim McBride: Health insurance, universal health care, public health, Medicare policy, health economics, gerontology and Social Security, state health policy, economics of aging, rural health care.
Mark Rank: Poverty, social policy, social welfare, social stratification, family, demography.
William Tate: Education policy, human resource development in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education, urban studies, race and American education.
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Economic Issues / Fiscal Policy
Cheryl Block: Federal budget, tax law and policy, corporate taxation, federal bailouts, tax cut extensions, tax deficits.
Steve Fazzari: United States economy, consumer debt, sub-prime mortgage loans, macroeconomics, deficits, tax.
Michele Boldrin: Public policy, foreign policy, economic crisis, economic growth, innovation, business cycles, intellectual property, welfare, property rights, education.
Marion Crain: Unions, collective bargaining, public employee unions, labor law, employment law, family Law, labor movement, employee benefits, wage disparities.
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Public Opinion
James Gibson: Election 2012, judicial politics, democratization, political psychology, political tolerance, survey research, quantitative research methods, Russian politics.
Alan Lambert: Rally-round-the-flag effects, presidents in wartime, political ideology.
Steven S. Smith: Congress, American politics, legislative institutions, congressional elections, implications of election outcomes for governing, lame duck sessions.
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Media and Politics
James Gibson: Election 2012, judicial politics, democratization, political psychology, political tolerance, survey research, quantitative research methods, Russian politics.
Gregory Magarian: Election law, First Amendment, third parties, free speech, law and religion, church-state law, media regulation, free press, the Constitution, legal issues surrounding healthcare reform law.
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