Election Night: USC Experts Available

For assistance reaching any of these experts, contact USC Media Relations at its 24-hour line for journalists, (213) 740-2215.

KAREEM CRAYTON, assistant professor of law and political science, can discuss the final stretch of the presidential contest. A specialist in presidential politics, Crayton can talk about how the Barack Obama and John McCain campaigns performed in key battleground states. Contact him at (213) 740-2516 or kcrayton@law.usc.edu.

DAVID CRUZ, professor of law, is an expert in constitutional law and civil rights. Cruz can discuss California’s Prop. 8 and Prop. 4. Contact him at (213) 740-6830 or dcruz@law.usc.edu.

ANGE-MARIE HANCOCK, associate professor of political science, is an expert on African-American politics, race relations and women in politics. Contact her at (213) 740-3297 or (310) 994-5563 or ahancock@usc.edu.

TOM HOLLIHAN, professor in the USC Annenberg School for Communication, is an expert on political rhetoric and campaign language. He will be on campus until about 6 p.m. on election night and reachable at his office, (213) 740-3947. Later that evening he will be available by cell phone, (213) 392-2234.

PATRICK JAMES, professor of international relations, is a foreign policy and conservative politics expert. He will be available by phone only through USC Media Relations at (213) 740-2215.

SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE, political analyst and senior scholar in the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development, is an expert in U.S., California and Los Angeles politics. She will be available by phone only on election night. Contact her through USC Media Relations, (213) 740-2215.

JOHN MATSUSAKA, law and business professor and president of the Initiative and Referendum Institute at USC, can discuss ballot initiatives across the country, including a surge of measures on social issues such as abortion, marijuana and affirmative action. Contact him at (213) 740-0678 or matsusak@usc.edu.

RICARDO RAMIREZ, assistant professor of political science and American studies and ethnicity, is an expert on state and local politics and the presidential election. He is fluent in Spanish. He is available during the day Tuesday and Wednesday, but not on election night. Contact him at (213) 740-1683 or ramirez1@usc.edu.

DARIA ROITHMAYR, professor of law and expert on race and gender, can discuss strategic strengths and weaknesses of each campaign. Roithmayr has worked for Sen. Edward Kennedy and as a strategist and research specialist on several congressional campaigns. Contact her at (213) 740-6228 or (310) 367-1295 or droithmayr@law.usc.edu.

DAN SCHNUR, director of the USC Unruh Institute of Politics, was Sen. John McCain’s communications director during his 2000 presidential campaign. Contact him at (213) 740-8511 or (213) 740-8964, or through USC Media Relations at (213) 740-2215.

JANELLE WONG, assistant professor of political science and American studies and ethnicity, is an expert on ethnicity and politics, particularly the Asian-American vote. She is available on election night by phone only, through USC Media Relations at (213) 740-2215. Other times, contact her at janellew@usc.edu.

USC EXPERTS ON THE ECONOMY AND THE ELECTION

DOLORES CONWAY, associate professor of statistics and director of the Casden Real Estate Economics Forecast, can discuss the impact of the election on the housing and commercial real estate markets. Contact her at (213) 740-4836 or dconway@marshall.usc.edu.

LARRY HARRIS, professor of finance and business economics, can talk about the election and its impact on the economy. Larry Harris served as chief economist in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from 2002 to 2004. Contact him at (213) 740-6496 or lharris@usc.edu.

LARS PERNER, marketing professor, can talk about consumer reaction and consumer psychology. Contact him at (213) 740-7127 or (760) 412-0154 or lars.perner@marshall.usc.edu.

ARIS PROTOPAPADAKIS, associate professor of finance and business economics, is an expert on stock market volatility, monetary and fiscal policy, international finance and foreign exchange risk. He can discuss the election’s outcome and its impact on policy.  Contact him at (213) 740-6537 or aprotopapadakis@marshall.usc.edu.

ELECTION NIGHT VIEWING

Election Night @ Annenberg
USC Annenberg School for Communication, the Center on Communication Leadership and the USC Unruh Institute of Politics invite students, faculty and friends to watch a telecast of election returns. The event will also focus on statewide offices and ballot propositions. Students for Obama and Students for McCain will have tables at the event. Refreshments will be served. Location: Annenberg School for Communication, East Lobby. Time: 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Open to media. Contact: Megan Baaske, (213) 437-4453 or mbaaske@usc.edu.

PRE- AND POST-ELECTION FORUMS

USC Gould School of Law and the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at USC are holding two panel discussions to explore the candidates, issues and events of the historic 2008 election season.

The first panel discussion, “Red States, Blue States, and the State of the Race,” is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 30, from 3 to 5 p.m. in the USC Law Faculty Lounge. USC Law Prof. Kareem Crayton; Dan Schnur, director of the Unruh Institute and former Sen. John McCain political strategist; and Bruce Nash, president of Nash Information Services, a consulting business that provides data analysis and projections for the movie business, will serve on the panel.

The second event, “What Happened and Why? A Post-Election Conversation about Candidates, Strategies and Ballot Measures in the Race of 2008,” will take place after the election on Thursday, Nov. 6, from 12:20 to 1:10 p.m. in Room 1 of the law school. Crayton, Schnur and John Matsusaka, president of the Initiative and Referendum Institute at USC, will take part in the discussion.

For more information, contact Gilien Silsby, (213) 740-9690 or gsilsby@usc.edu.