Posted August 22, 2008

Temple University political experts look toward the conventions

MICHAEL G. HAGEN
Associate professor of political science

Michael G. Hagen conducts polling and research on public policy and election trends in the Philadelphia region and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He is co-author of the The Presidential Campaign of 2000 and the Foundations of Party Politics (2004).

“Besides Senator Obama himself, Senator Clinton will be the most important Democrat in Pennsylvania, even if only as a speaker at the Democratic convention. The enthusiasm with which she backs the

Photo by Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University

Hagen

Obama campaign will make a difference here,” Hagen said.

“Of all of the vice presidential nominees mentioned, Senator Biden might help the Obama campaign a little more in southeastern Pennsylvania than elsewhere in the country. Because a healthy fraction of the Philadelphia television market resides in Delaware, the region’s television newscasts would devote more time to Biden than newscasts in other markets,” he said.

“Governor Ridge would certainly help the McCain campaign in Pennsylvania, though his selection would not ensure that McCain carried the state. The big question about Ridge is how much his position on abortion would hurt the Republican campaign among conservatives in other states,” Hagen added.

Photo by Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University

Harper

CHRISTOPHER HARPER
Associate professor of journalism

Christopher Harper focuses his research on the history of journalism and the role of digital media. He worked for more than 20 years in journalism at the Associated Press, Newsweek, ABC News and ABC 20/20. Harper is co-director of Temple University’s Multimedia Urban Reporting Lab.

“Citizen journalists—bloggers and video bloggers—will play a big part in this political season because their messages can be targeted to specific groups and because mainstream media organizations, due to financial constraints, will be focused more on the horserace aspect of the presidential race,” said Harper.

JAMES W. HILTY Professor of history and acting dean of Ambler College James W. Hilty specializes in U.S. political history for the period since 1928, with particular focus on the Roosevelt, Truman and Kennedy administrations. He is the author of Robert Kennedy: Brother Protector (1997). “Historically speaking, the 2008 campaign strikes me as remarkably similar to the JFK-Nixon campaign of 1960,” said Hilty. “The greatest similarities are between JFK and Obama. In both instances, a young senator challenged the record of a two-term president as a recession impinged on the economy. JFK's theme,	Photo courtesy TU Ambler Hilty
"Getting the country moving again" remarked on the need for change and declared America was approaching a ‘New Frontier.’ JFK, a Catholic, was attempting to break through a prejudicial barrier to the office. So is Obama.” Hilty said. Noting similarities between Nixon and McCain, Hilty said that both Nixon and McCain are products of the Republican mainstream. “Nixon, for eight years Eisenhower's Vice President, had to defend the status quo and the Eisenhower record. McCain, by contrast, must both defend and deny the Bush record,” he said.

TEMPLE STUDENTS Several students from Temple University’s Honors Program will be present at the Democratic and Republican conventions, blogging, participating in seminars and getting a first-hand look at the events. To speak with one or more of these students, please contact Kim Fischer, kim.fischer@temple.edu, 215-204-7479.

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